# Presentation: 431260

## METHYLMERCURY INTERAGENCY WORKING GROUP

_**METHYLMERCURY INTERAGENCY WORKING GROUP**_
**Gene Whitney**
**Office of Science and Technology Policy**
**Executive Office of the President**
**Washington, DC**

## MERCURY OVERVIEW

** ****Global anthropogenic mercury in the environment - summary**
** ****UNEP Global Mercury Assessment**
** ****NSTC Interagency Working Group on Methylmercury**

##  GLOBAL SOURCES OF MERCURY   

**  *****“******Industrial” mercury***
**Mercury that is mined, processed, and used intentionally in industrial or consumer products and processes**
**Exposure is occupational, local, often elemental**
**  *****“******Incidental” mercury***
**Mercury that occurs incidentally in materials that are burned or processed, emitted in gaseous or soluble forms**
**Exposure is regional or global, as elemental, salt, or methylmercury**

## 372 metric tons

**	****Alkaline **
**	****Mercuric oxide **
**Electric Lighting **
**	****Fluorescent Lamps **
**	****High Intensity Lamps**
**Paint Residues **
**Hg-Thermometers **
**Thermostats **
**Pigments **
**Dental Uses **
**Special Paper Coating **
**Mercury Light Switches **
**Film Pack Batteries **

_**INDUSTRIAL MERCURY:**_
_**MERCURY IN CONSUMER PRODUCTS AND PROCESSES**_

**372 metric tons**
**     ****Hg consumed**
**     ****in U.S.**

## U.S.  INDUSTRIAL MERCURY  CONSUMPTION

**U.S.  INDUSTRIAL MERCURY  CONSUMPTION**

## “INCIDENTAL” MERCURY:

** ****Mercury emitted from combustion or roasting of Hg-containing materials**
** ****Hg enters the environment as elemental Hg, HgCl****2****, or other salt**
** ****Hg is widely dispersed by atmosphere and oceans**
** ****Hg is deposited, methylated, and enters food chain - may become human health problem**

## Slide 7

## MAIN SOURCES OF 

_**“**__**INCIDENTAL” MERCURY EMISSIONS**_

** ****Coal combustion***
** ****Oil* and natural gas combustion**
** ****Municipal solid waste combustion****
** ****Medical waste combustion****
** ****Hazardous waste combustion****
** ****Cement kiln operation**
** ****Sewage sludge incineration**
** ****Smelters**
** ****Landfills**
**	****	*****to be regulated  **now regulated**

## MERCURY ENTERING THE ENVIRONMENT IN THE U.S.

**MERCURY ENTERING THE ENVIRONMENT IN THE U.S.**

**Incidental Hg**
**129.7 metric tons**

**Industrial Hg**
**14.3 metric tons**

**TOTAL Hg**
**144 metric tons**

## DEPOSITION OF TOTAL MERCURY IN U.S.

**DEPOSITION OF TOTAL MERCURY IN U.S.**

- EPA Mercury Study, Report to Congress, 1997

## GLOBAL DISTRIBUTION OF MERCURY EMISSIONS TO AIR

**GLOBAL DISTRIBUTION OF MERCURY EMISSIONS TO AIR**

*From UNEP Global Mercury Assessment draft 10/04/02.  Source of data: J. Pacyna pers. comm., Canadian Global Emissions Interpretation Centre (CGEIC), as presented by AMAP (1998). Original figure presented courtesy of AMAP, Norway.*

## MODELLED DEPOSITION OF MERCURY IN THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE

- From UNEP Global Mercury Assessment draft 10-4-02.  Data Source:  Travnikov O. and Ryaboshapko A. (2002): Modelling of mercury hemispheric transport and depositions. EMEP/MSC-E Technical Report 6/2002, Meteorological Synthesizing Centre - East, Moscow, Russia.

**MODELLED DEPOSITION OF MERCURY IN THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE**

## UNITED NATIONS ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAM:

**GLOBAL MERCURY ASSESSMENT**

**  ****U.S. participation coordinated by State Department with input from EPA, NIH, DOE, and other Federal agencies**
**  ****Purpose:  To provide sound scientific background for any international measures taken to address adverse impacts of mercury on a regional or global scale**
**  ****Key issues:  global cycling of mercury, impact of mercury on global fishing, mercury hazards in poor regions, mercury as a commodity subject to international use and commerce, identification of sensitive populations, identification of critical regional problems**
**  ****Outcome:  UNEP Governing Council to make recommendations for multinational agreements on mercury**

## NSTC INTERAGENCY WORKING

** ****GROUP ON METHYLMERCURY**

-   ***Formation*****:  May 20, 2002.  Presidential response to letter from Sen. Jeff Sessions expressing concern about methyl mercury in Gulf of Mexico**
**  *****Purpose*****:  Provide an interagency forum to understand the impact of methyl mercury on human health, it’s causes, and to recommend strategic Federal R&D pathways to solutions.**
**  *****Process*****:  Monthly meetings of agency/department representatives, exchange of information about work and data, development of R&D budget and work strategies within agencies to address the gaps and find solutions.**

## NSTC INTERAGENCY WORKING

- 	Chair:  President Bush
- 	Membership: Cabinet Secretaries
- 	Administration:  Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP)
- 		Dr. John H. Marburger III, President’s Science Advisor
- 	Purpose:  Address science and technology issues affecting
- 		policy decisions
** *****Committee on Environment and Natural Resources***
- 		Co-chairs:  Conrad Lautenbacher (NOAA), Paul 				Gilman (EPA), Kathie Olsen (OSTP)
- 		Membership:  Heads of science agencies
-  **S*****ubcommittee on Toxics***
*** ******Interagency Working Group on Methylmercury***
- 		Co-chairs:  Paul Anastas (OSTP), Elizabeth Stolpe (CEQ)
- 		Members:  Agency managers and scientists dealing with 			mercury

**NSTC INTERAGENCY WORKING**
** ****GROUP ON METHYLMERCURY**

## NSTC INTERAGENCY WORKING

-  Bring all Federal agencies to the table
-  Review and evaluate agency research and data
-  Identify data gaps and research needs
-  Develop strategy for addressing needs through agency 	planning process and budget formulation
-  Coordinate with other CENR subcommittees, state and 	local efforts

**NSTC INTERAGENCY WORKING**
** ****GROUP ON METHYLMERCURY**

## NSTC INTERAGENCY WORKING

** ****EPA**
** ****MMS**
** ****NMFS**
** ****NOAA**
** ****USGS**
** ****HHS**
** ****NIH**
** ****FDA**
** ****CDC**
** ****State Dept.**

**Work of agencies will involve local, state, regional, and industry groups. **

**NSTC INTERAGENCY WORKING**
** ****GROUP ON METHYLMERCURY**

## NSTC INTERAGENCY WORKING

-  Identify fish species contaminated with levels of 	methylmercury that pose human health risk
-  Identify mercury pathways for species that pose a 	human health risk
-  Identify the ultimate sources of mercury in GOM
-  Identify prevention or control measures
-  Estimate time period for methylmercury decline after 	prevention/control measures
-  Expand assessment methodology to national scale

**NSTC INTERAGENCY WORKING**
** ****GROUP ON METHYLMERCURY**

## National Research Needs on Mercury:

- Atmospheric mercury sources
- Atmospheric transport and deposition
- Mercury cycling and methylation in 	aquatic ecosystems
- Mercury bioaccumulation
- Toxicological effects and risk 	management

**NSTC INTERAGENCY WORKING**
** ****GROUP ON METHYLMERCURY**

## GLOBAL MERCURY:  SUMMARY

_**GLOBAL MERCURY:  SUMMARY**_
** ****Mercury in all of its forms is a serious environmental issue nationally and globally**
** ****Mercury moves locally, regionally, and globally**
** ****Mercury in its methylated form enters the food chain and becomes human health problem**
** ****NSTC Interagency Working Group on Methylmercury is focusing on R&D within Federal agencies to find a path towards solutions**
** ****Gulf of Mexico will be examined as priority study**
** ****UNEP Global Mercury Assessment examining global environmental and human health issues related to mercury use and emissions.**