[greenyes] Waste News calls for ban on use of mercury in products

["Bill Sheehan" <bill.sheehan@no.address>]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Reindl, John 
To: mwg-mercury@no.address 
Sent: Wednesday, August 31, 2005 10:09 AM
Subject: Hg-WG: Waste News calls for ban on use of mercury in products

      Editorials 
     


      Skedaddle, quicksilver
       
      Mercury is slowly disappearing from the product landscape. It probably is no longer an issue of if it will cease to be an ingredient in various items, but when it will be gone for good. 

      Recently, PPG Industries agreed to stop using mercury in the manufacturing process at its largest chlorine gas plant. Meanwhile, there seems to be growing support to ban amalgam dental fillings, which contain mercury. 

      This follows the direction of the automotive industry, which has stopped making mercury switches. But the mercury issue continues to be a hot environmental debate in that business, as millions of older cars still have the switches, and stakeholders battle over ultimate removal responsibility. Also, a federal court last week upheld the U.S. EPAÂs mercury emissions rule, which some states and environmentalists believe doesnÂt address the problem quickly enough. 

      What seems to be beyond debate in any circles is that mercury use in products or manufacturing is a bad thing. ItÂs clearly toxic. 

      So in any case where itÂs used, whether itÂs chlorine manufacturing or a filling going into your mouth, producers need to find alternatives. Even if the solution is more costly and/or less efficient. The problem with using mercury is only going to go away if mercury use goes away. 

      (Aug. 15, 2005 issue of Waste News )