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Mercury Use in Switches, Relays, and Measuring Devices Presentation

Learn about the sources, amounts, and uses of mercury in switches, relays, and measuring devices. Explore state bans and reported phase-outs, along with mercury amounts in various devices. Discover the implications of underreporting.

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Mercury Use in Switches, Relays, and Measuring Devices Presentation

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  1. Presentations May 23 – 25, 2005 Portland, Maine For related information visit: http://www.newmoa.org/prevention/mercury/conferences

  2. Mercury Use in Switches, Relays & Measuring Devices Terri Goldberg, NEWMOA/IMERC

  3. Overview • Source of Information • Mercury Use in Switches & Applications • Mercury Use in Relays & Applications • Mercury Use in Measuring Devices • Where to go for more information

  4. Data Source • State Notification Requirements • Clearinghouse -- IMERC • Mandatory Reporting to Sell in States with Notification • Online Database • Non-compliance • Data Summarized in Series of Fact Sheets – IMERC webpage • Amount per component & total in all units sold in US in 2001

  5. What Are Mercury Switches? • Switches are products or devices that open or close an electrical circuit, or a liquid or gas valve. • Mercury Float Switch: actuated by rising or falling liquid levels • Mercury Tilt Switch: actuated by a change in the switch position • Mercury Pressure Switch: actuated by a change in pressure • Mercury Temperature Switch: actuated by a change in temperature • Mercury Flame Sensors

  6. Amount of Mercury in Switches • Tilt Switches: can range from about 0.05 grams to almost 5 grams • Float Switches: can range from more than 0.1 to more than 65 grams (float switch units with up to six individual switches) • Miscellaneous Switches: 0.005 to 5 grams • Flame Sensors: more than 1 gram

  7. Uses of Switches • Tilt Switches: cars; recreational vehicles; electric, gas & water meters; space heaters, manufacturing/miscellaneous • Float switches: pumps & pump systems • Other Switches: motor vehicles • Pressure controls: fire control units, manufacturing/ miscellaneous

  8. Total Mercury Use in Switches – US Sales, CY 2001, Pounds • Tilt Switches: 14,302 • Flame Sensors/Switches: 3,853 • Pressure Controls: 2,099 • Float Switches: 13,282 • Other Switches: 13,772 Total Mercury in Switches: 47,308 (over 23.6 tons) Mercury Use in Thermostats: 25,945 (about 13 tons) Note: UNDERREPORTING

  9. What are Mercury Relays? • Relays products or devices that open or close electrical contacts to effect the operation of other devices in the same or another electrical circuit; often used to turn on & off large current loads by supplying relatively small currents to a control circuit • Mercury Displacement Relays • Mercury Wetted Reed Relays • Mercury Contact Relays

  10. Amount of Mercury in Relays • Various Relays (individually): 0.005 to more than 1 gram • Units with 1 to 6 Poles/Relays: 0.01 – > 1 grams • Relay Controls (can have 8-32 relays): 0.12 - 0.32 grams

  11. Uses of Mercury Relays • Telecommunications Circuit Boards • Rotating Electrical Connectors • Chemical Analyzer • Manufacturing/Miscellaneous • Cooking Equipment

  12. Total Mercury Use in Relays – US Sales, CY 2001, Pounds • All Relays & Relay Controls: 62,208 (about 31 tons) • UNDERREPORTING

  13. Total Combined Mercury Use— CY 2001, US Sales • Total Mercury Use in Switches & Relays: ~54.5 tons • Total Mercury Use in Switches, Relays, & Thermostats: ~67.5 tons

  14. State Bans on Sales of Mercury Switches, Relays, & Thermostats • Phase Outs/Bans on Sale of Mercury Switches & Relays: CT, ME, IL, RI, VT • Specific Phase Outs/Bans on Sale of Mercury Auto Switches: CA, ME, WA, OR • Phase Outs/Bans on Sale of Mercury Thermostats: CA, CT, ME, RI, VT • Restrictions on Sales of Thermostats: OR, WA

  15. Examples Reported Phase-Outs of Mercury Use in Switches & Relays • Switch used in hydraulic level device in RVs -- Coachmen • Car Anti-lock braking system – Daimler Chrysler • Car Light Switches— Ford & GM • Trailer Braking Systems – Hopkins • Hood & Luggage Door Switches – International Truck & Engine • Fire Control Units – Joslyn Clark Controls • Vaccum Pump Pressure Switch – PACCAR, Inc.

  16. Which Measuring Devices Contain Mercury? • Barometers • Hydrometers • Manometers • Psychrometers & Hygrometers • Sphygmomanometers • Strain Gauges • Thermometers

  17. Amount of Mercury in Measuring Devices • Barometer: 395-622 grams • Thermohydrometer: > 1 gram • Manometer: 28-74 grams • Psychrometer: 5.2-6 grams • Sphygmomanometer: 104.2-124.5 grams • Strain Gauge: > 1 gram • Thermometers (including fever, laboratory, medical, industrial, & cooking): >0 - 0.005 - >1 gram

  18. More on Thermometers • Fever thermometers: ~0.5 grams • Laboratory thermometers: ~ 3 grams • Industrial thermometers: much more than 1 gram (maximum amount reported as 117 grams)

  19. Total Mercury Use in Measuring Devices – US Sales; CY 2001; Pounds • Barometers: 353 • Hydrometer/Thermometer: 8 • Manometers: 1,936 • Psychrometers: 3 • Sphygmomanometers: 4,002 • Strain gauge: 1.5 • Thermometers: 3,221Replacement mercury: 118 Total for all Measuring Devices: 9,642.5 (about 4.8 tons) Note: UNDERREPORTING

  20. Measuring Devices Phase-Outs • Thermometers: Princo • Thermometers: Taylor Precision Products

  21. State Bans on Sales of Mercury Measuring Devices -- Examples • Manometers: CT, ME, MN, VT, WA • Thermometers: CA, CT, IN, IL, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, NH, NY, OR, RI, WA, VT • Instruments & Measuring Devices: CT, ME, RI, VT

  22. More Information • Draft “Mercury Use in Switches & Relays” (not yet published online) • “Mercury Use in Measuring Devices” —www.newmoa.org/prevention/mercury/ imerc/FactSheets/measuring_devices.doc • Mercury-added Products Database – www.newmoa.org/prevention/mercury/imerc/ notification/ Contact: Terri Goldberg, (617) 367-8558 x302

  23. Presentations May 23 – 25, 2005 Portland, Maine

  24. Reducing Mercury Switches and Relays in Illinois

  25. Why focus on switches and relays? • Wanted comprehensive mercury legislation initially • Fever thermometer and novelty item ban signed into law in 2003 • Switches and relays large source of mercury in manufacturing

  26. Initial Proposal • All switches and relays except those: • Required under Federal law or contract • Used to replace switches and relays that are components in larger products in use prior to July 1, 2007 and • Larger product is used in manufacturing or • Switch or relay is integrated into larger product

  27. Opposition • Thermostat manufacturer • TRC program • Voluntarily phasing out • Electric utility company • Nuclear plants and emergency situations • Federal law provision • Medical diagnostic equipment manufacturer • Component of larger product provision

  28. Final Legislation • Ban, as of July 1, 2007, on sale, offer of sale, distribution and offer of distribution • Applies to: • Individual mercury switches and relays • Mercury switches and relays that are product components

  29. Final Legislation • Exemptions for • Climate control thermostats • Electrical generating facilities • Medical diagnostic equipment • Manufacturers may request exemptions for other uses • Report to Governor and Legislature on climate control thermostats

  30. Exemptions • Submit request to IEPA by July 1, 2006 • IL EPA to develop rules and prescribe forms for exemption requests • Manufacturer must demonstrate: • End of life collection, transportation and processing system for switches, relays, instruments or pieces of equipment that is widely available and convenient exists

  31. Exemptions AND • The specific use or uses of the switch, relay, instrument, or piece of equipment provides a net benefit to the environment, public health, or public safety when compared to available non-mercury alternatives.

  32. Exemptions • Granted for 5 years • With or without conditions • Renewals – must demonstrate original reasons for exemption still exist • IL EPA must consult with other states prior to granting exemptions • Joined IMERC in December 2004

  33. Universal Waste • Legislation designated mercury switches and relays as Universal Waste • Required IL Pollution Control Board to adopt rules • Rules went into effect 4/13/05

  34. Becky Lockart Office of Pollution Prevention Illinois Environmental Protection Agency P.O. Box 19276 Springfield, IL 62794-9276 217-524-9642 Becky.Lockart@epa.state.il.us

  35. Presentations May 23 – 25, 2005 Portland, Maine

  36. Mercury P2 ProgramReducing Mercury Containing Equipment

  37. Presenter: Patrick S Zombo Senior Environmental Planner c/o Consumers Energy Co. 1945 W Parnall Rd Jackson, MI 49201 phone 517 788 0647 fax 517 788 1064 email pszombo@cmsenergy.com Mercury P2 Program

  38. Go for the BIG FISH….. You’ll spend the same amount of time baiting the hook…… “Good Stuff”

  39. Mercury P2 Presentation

  40. Environmental Concerns: Public awareness: Fish Advisories Binational Toxics Strategy Workgroup Michigan P2 Task Force Recommendations Difficulty of dealing with Mercury emissions Waste Management Concerns: Hg both Listed and Characteristic RCRA waste Land Ban Restricted Required EPA specified treatment technology or Treatment to UTS Expensive waste stream Why Initiate MCE reduction program?

  41. Obtain Upper Management Support Incorporate existing related Programs Mercury Regulator program Corporate P2 Program Strong Recycling Program Establish Mercury P2 Team Program Champion Environmental Coordinators Include Key Departments Facilities Legal Purchasing Maintenance Environmental Get more help! Implement Voluntary Program

  42. Set Goals/Milestones Keep Team Informed Share Results Example: Identify potential MCE Complete an Inventory Identify types and quantities of MCE Identify Location(s) Identify Responsible Units Identify Alternative Equipment Work The Plan

  43. 408.5 Switches/Relays/Timers/Gauges 11.1 Lab Use Manometers/Barometer 368.9 Various Meters 537 Thermostats/Thermometer 24.7 Chart Recorders 4 Gas Extraction Apparatus 18.5 406 Customer Gas Regulators 141.7 Misc. Equipment 88 Ring Balances Bottled/Stock Mercury 455.6 Consumers Energy 1996 Inventory Numbers Represent Total Pounds (Estimated Total is 2464 Pounds) t

  44. Manometers 348 356 Bottled Mercury (In Stock) 89.2 Misc. Equipment Thermometers 3.5 88 Ring Balances Thermostats 16.31 35.3 Switches 201 Flowmeters 0.59 Gauges Drum Level Meters 24 48.3 Relays Repair Equipment 30.1 318.8 Timers Numbers Represent Total Pounds in Each Type of Equipment (Estimated Total is 1559 Pounds) Electric Business Unit

  45. Chart Recorders Thermostats/Thermometers 1.3 4 43.64 Mercury Stock Spare Meters 64 23.6 Misc. Equipment 5.18 Switches 11.8 Manometers 248 Flowmeters Gas Business Unit Customer Gas Regulators 406 Numbers Represent Total Pounds in Each Type of Equipment Used (Estimated Total is 808 Pounds) *

  46. 0.312 Switches 1.46 Thermometers Interference Removal Chemicals 2 Gas Extraction Apparatus 18.5 8.5 Barometers 1.74 Thermostats 6.5 Mercury Fix Point Thermocouple Juncs. 0.02 2 Stokes Gauges 0.06 Hg Sealed Pistons 56 Mercury Stock Numbers Represent Total Pounds in Each Type of Equipment Used (Estimated Total is 97 lbs) OSD Business Unit

  47. SBU Comparisons Mercury Quantities (lbs) 1559 808 97 Total Strategic Business Units of Consumers Energy Company (Estimated Total is 2464 Pounds) k

  48. Strategic Business Units of Consumers Energy Company (Estimated Total is 2464 pounds) Comparison: In Service/Stock 1996 Mercury Quantities (lbs) 1162.9 708.9 396.1 39.0 99.4 equipment in service 58.0 equipment in stock (1559) (808) (97)

  49. Recycle excess stock Hg Consolidate @ Key Locations: Required Stock Hg Required MCE Replace Regulators Flame Sensor Switches Thermostats Lab I&C equipment Switches/relays etc from Meters Key Activities

  50. Education Initiatives/Training Meter Readers Gas Service Workers Lab Technicians Purchasing Staff Coordinators Purchasing Criteria Equipment that is mercury Free Lamps Batteries Key Activities

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