In addition, contamination of river sediments by persistent and bioaccumulative contaminants was prevalent. EFED is currently reviewing these reports. A guidance package includes project criteria, the availability of funds. Interested programs should contact their appropriate PBT regional coordinato r. Mercury is a naturally occurring element that is present throughout the environment.
Human activity can release some of that mercury into the air, water and soil.
The Environmental Protection Agency is working to reduce the amount of mercury in the environment. The new site includes information on general information about mercury, current actions being taken by EPA, technical information on mercury and fish advisories. New York state Attorney General Eliot Spitzer and his counterparts from 25 other states and territories are asking the auto industry to replace a part that has been identified as a source of air and groundwater pollution. In a recent letter to the Ford Motor Company, the attorneys general asked the automaker to replace hood and trunk light switches that contain mercury, a toxic substance that causes brain, kidney, and fetal damage. The mercury used in switches for hood and trunk convenience lighting and in other devices becomes a contaminant when vehicles are scrapped.