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First Step to a Mercury Free Los Angeles (and California)
By an 11 to 0 vote, the LA City Council voted this morning to approve a
resolution titled "First Step to a Mercury Free Los Angeles." The
resolution (see below) urges hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies to
eliminate their use of mercury products and calls on the County of Los
Angeles to do the same. PSR-LA had been working for the past couple months
with Councilman Ridley-Thomas to put the resolution before the city
council. Now that it has passed, we have commitments from Councilman
Ridley-Thomas to help coordinate mercury thermometer exchanges, begin a
review of the use of mercury by the city, and introduce, within the next
year, an ordinance banning the sale of mercury thermometers and toys
in the city of Los Angeles.
--Adam Levine
--Physicians for Social Responsibility, Los Angeles
------------------------------------------------------------------------
RESOLUTION
FIRST STEP TO A MERCURY-FREE LOS ANGELES
WHEREAS, elementary mercury and mercury compounds are known to be toxic
and hazardous to human health and the environment; and
WHEREAS, mercury vapor released into the atmosphere is readily absorbed by
inhalation and passes through the bloodstream to the central nervous
system; and,
WHEREAS, mercury, when released into the environment, is transformed via
bacterial metabolism into methyl-mercury, a compound which accumulates and
moves up through the food chain in fish and wildlife; and
WHEREAS, most mercury exposure in humans occur through consumption of
fish; and
WHEREAS, methyl-mercury is known to adversely affect the nervous and
reproductive systems of humans, with particular danger to pregnant women
and children due to its damaging effects on the developing brain; and
WHEREAS, mercury is also used in consumer and medical products, which
accounts for approximately 30% of the 158 tons of human?generated mercury
emissions released annually to the atmosphere in the United States; and
WHEREAS, mercury bearing products include old alkaline batteries and some
button batteries, fluorescent and high-intensity discharge lamps,
thermostat gauges and switches, thermometers, sphygmomanometers,
laboratory agents, amalgam dental fillings, chemistry sets, and older toys
and games; and
WHEREAS, effective and appropriate alternatives are currently available
for most consumer and medical products containing mercury; and
WHEREAS, pollution prevention is recognized as the most effective way to
protect human and environmental health; and
WHEREAS, the American Hospital Association entered into a Memorandum of
Understanding with the United States Environmental Protection Agency on
January 24, 1998 calling for the virtual elimination of mercury waste by
2005; and
WHEREAS, the American Public Health Association passed a resolution on
November 10, 1999 urging all health care facilities to promptly eliminate
mercury?containing waste from incinerator feedstock and encouraged
community-based mercury reduction efforts; and
WHEREAS, the California Medical Association passed a resolution on January
15, 2000 encouraging medical institutions to adopt policies that will lead
to the eventual elimination of mercury containing products where feasible,
effective alternatives are available; and
WHEREAS, highly effective programs for the virtual elimination of mercury
from hospital waste through the use of mercury-free alternative products,
pollution prevention strategies and appropriate disposal techniques have
been initiated in the United States; and
WHEREAS, the States of New Hampshire and Minnesota, and the City and
County of San Francisco recently adopted legislation banning or
restricting the sale, import or manufacture of mercury products within
their respective jurisdictions; and
WHEREAS, a number of California hospitals, including UCLA Medical Center,
Kaiser Permanente, and Catholic Healthcare West, have committed to
eliminating mercury from their facilities; and
WHEREAS, Rite-Aid pharmacies have pledged to stop selling mercury
thermometers; and
WHEREAS, hospitals, clinics, and other medical facilities throughout Los
Angeles currently use medical products which contain mercury and
ultimately generate atmospheric and organic mercury toxins; and
WHEREAS, many retail establishments still sell mercury thermometers, even
though mercury-free alternatives, such as digital or alcohol thermometers,
are readily available.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Los Angeles City Council urges all
hospitals, clinics, and other medical facilities within the City to
eliminate the purchase and use of products containing mercury whenever
feasible and effective alternatives are available, and to promptly
eliminate mercury from the medical waste stream through proper disposal
and recycling procedures; and
THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Los Angeles City Council urges
all retail establishments within the City to replace any and all
thermometers, toys, games, and other products for sale to the public that
may contain mercury with mercury?free alternatives; and,
THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Los Angeles City Council urges
the County of Los Angeles to take the same steps to eliminate the purchase
and use of mercury products in the County of Los Angeles, if other
effective alternatives are available; and
THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Los Angeles City Council
intends to continue to pursue this issue and may take further steps to
implement this resolution to eliminate the mercury and mercury pollution.
PRESENTED BY___________________________
Mark Ridley-Thomas
Councilman, Eighth District
SECONDED BY____________________________
--
Stephanie C. Davis - BFA, MPA
Experienced Professional of Healthcare &
Non-Residential Waste Programs
Waste Reduction Remedies sm
A Multi-Waste Stream, Multi-Material
Waste Management Company
1497 Hopkins Street #2D Berkeley CA 94702-1201
Telephone & Fax: 510/527-8864 Pacific Time
E-mail: ScD18@WasteReductionRemedies.com
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