mercury in schools steve brachman steve skavroneck al stenstrup mary thiry
TRANSCRIPT
Mercury in Schools
Steve BrachmanSteve Skavroneck
Al StenstrupMary Thiry
www.mercuryinschools.uwex.edu
Mercury inSchools Project
Started in Wisconsin and Region 5
Expanding nationally with new features Revised web site
www.mercuryinschools.uwex.edu
New and improved curriculum Online course
Email us at: [email protected]
Hispanic information CD for school administrators
JeopardyMercury
100200
300
400
500
HgMadhatters used Hg with this type of material
The burning of this fossil fuel releases Hg into the air
Women of child bearing age and children are the targets of these
These have resulted in building closures, health screenings, expensive cleanups and parent lawsuits across the country.
Environmental Issues
Health Impacts
Mercury bioaccumulates from the bottom to the top of the food chain
Sources of Mercury
Historical
Current usages
Cultural uses
Historical Uses
The Ancients
The Middle Ages
In Medicine
Industrial
Uses of Mercury
Thermostats28%
Batteries1%
Hospitals and Medical Facilities
21%Switches - Appliances2%
Dental Facilities16%
Educational Institutions
6%
Switches - Lighting13%
Fluorescent Lamps7%
Switches - Automotive
6%
Cultural Uses
Botanicas Statues and icons Natural herbs Folk remedies Amulets & rosaries
Sold: 0.5 mL (6.5 grams) 1 mL Varying amulets
Ritual Use Good luck, acquire
money, love, control others, healing
Sprinkled around home, burned in candles, cleaning water, rubbed onto skin, ingested, and carried on person
Why schools?
Liability Clean up costs Parental lawsuits Staff and student
exposure Demolition/renovation
Kids and teachers working togetherLessons for home and the communityDoable
Educational Foundations
Interdisciplinary
Connected to national academic standards
Leads students from Awareness to Action
Community-based investigations and projects
Based on Constructivist Theory of Learning
Current Mercury Curriculum Activities
1. Mercury IQ
2. Case study
3. School mercury audit
4. Home mercury audit
5. Trade-offs exercise
6. Hg in the Food Chain
7. Mercury in fish
8. Mercury through the Ages
9. A local survey
10. Community Action Project
1. MERCURY IQ
Background information on health and environmental issues, cultural uses of mercury
Connections to national academic standards
Short quiz about mercury to see what students know
2. Case Study of Mercury Contamination in a School
Students are provided with the Michigan mercury case study and some additional
information on health effects.
A series of questions is provided for the teacher to stimulate discussion.
3. School Mercury Audit
Students conduct a mercury inventory of their school or another school in the area.Guidance on what to look for and questions to ask are provided.Possible actions for dealing with mercury products found in the school are provided. A reporting form is also included.This could be a good opportunity to take advantage of a free recycling program.
4. Mercury at Home
Very similar to the school audit.Students conduct a home mercury inventory. A chart showing what to look for and where is provided.A reporting form is also included.Disposal requirements, recycling and household hazardous waste disposal are also discussed.
Mercury Reduction Legislative Trends
National/regional mercury model legislation
Local, community-based approaches
Mercury Education and Reduction Model
Legislation
Developed by the New England Waste Management Officials Association
Objectives:Eliminate non-essential mercury usesReduce by 2003 overall amounts of
mercury-containing waste
Key Components
Manufacturer notification
Interstate Clearinghouse
Bans on frivolous use products
Phase-out and Exemptions - 1g > 10 milligrams
Labeling
Disposal ban
Key Components (cont.)
Collection
Disclosure requirements for health care facilities
Control on sale of elemental mercury
Public education and outreach
Universal waste rule adoption regionally
State procurement - financial incentives
School Specific Legislation
Michigan’s ban – Senate Bill 1262Passed Amended to include private schools with a
ban by 2004.
Duluth’s (and many other cities) local banProposed legislation in Indiana, NH, MA, CA
Local Approaches
Milwaukee and Dane County, WI
Based upon source analysis
Prioritizing by community critical
Dane County Key Components
Product Specific ProgramsThermometer banFluorescent light education programThermostats – voluntary sale ban &
collection promotionDairy manometers outreachAuto switches – DNR grant programAppliance switches - more research
Dane County (cont.)
Miscellaneous uses research – e.g., gas meters
Facility specific programsMedical facilities outreachDentistsSchoolsDemolition and remodeling contractors
5. Trade-Offs Exercise
Students examine the pros and cons of incandescent vs. fluorescent bulbs.
They examine energy use, mercury emissions and cost.
They present their recommendations as to which to use and why.
6. Mercury In The Food Chain
Enhances understanding of food webs, nutrient cycles and bioaccumulation and their interactions
Students create a food web for a water body
Physical demonstration of bioaccumulation
7. Atmospheric Mercury
Students are provided background information on sources of mercury. They are also provided a series of fact sheets information on air deposition. bioaccumulation.A map can be used to identify contaminated bodies of water.Students are asked to analyze different factors that may impact which water bodies.Students may discuss fish advisory fact sheets and the like.
Advisory for Specific Waters
Eating no more than one meal (1/2 pound) per week of fish from any freshwater, the Hudson River estuary, Upper Bay of New York Harbor (north of Verrazano Narrows Bridge), Arthur Kill, Kill Van Kull, East River to the Throgs Neck Bridge and Harlem River, except as recommended below.
Women of childbearing age, infants, and children under the age of 15 should not eat any fish species from waters listed below.
Following trimming and cooking advice.
Water (County) Species Recommended
Ashokan Reservoir (Ulster)
Smallmouth bass over 16"
Walleye
1 meal/month
1 meal/month
Barge Canal-Tonawanda CreekLockport to Niagara River (Erie; Niagara)
Carp 1 meal/month
8. Mercury Through The Ages
History of mercury use is provided
Unique properties of mercury are presented
Students relate the unique properties to the historical uses and offer ideas for non-mercury alternatives
9. Local Survey About Mercury
Students design and conduct a community survey about mercury.
A sample is provided in the package or they can develop their own.
They also develop a plan for communicating the results of the survey to the participants.
10. Community Action Projects
Students develop a set of recommendations for their community concerning mercury.
Options include educating people in the community about mercury and how to handle it, store it and clean up spills.
Several possible projects are provided.
Several Internet sources are also provided.
Using the internet
Wide variety of resources
Can be used to create own web pages, programs, or fact sheets
Start with EPA as a source of unbiased, credible information.
