Mercury in the Home
The following list represents some of the consumer products that contain mercury:, Batteries:, Since 1994, federal law has limited the amount of mercury in button cell batteries (used in watches, hearing aids, and calculators) and has prohibited intentional addition of mercury to standard household batteries (dry-cell sizes A, AA, C, D, etc.)., Detergents and disinfectants:, Some bleach, detergents with bleach, stain removers, and soaps also contain mercury. To be more aware, read product labels and try to purchase mercury-free alternatives., Fluorescent bulbs:, Mercury is used in long fluorescent bulbs, compact fluorescent bulbs, high-intensity discharge (HID) bulbs, and other types of energy-efficient lighting. Some fluorescent bulb manufacturers have introduced "green tip" bulbs. These bulbs typically contain less mercury than standard fluorescent bulbs, but still should be recycled or disposed of properly., Jewelry:, There are some necklaces imported from Mexico that have a glass pendant that contains mercury. The pendants come in various shapes such as hearts, bottles, balls, and chili peppers. Broken necklaces have resulted in mercury spills at schools., Medicine:, Mercury in the forms of phenylmercury acetate and ethylmercury has been used in fungicides, antiseptics, or disinfectants. It also has been used in a variety of products. Most of these uses have been discontinued, but small amounts of these compounds can still be found as preservatives in some medicines. Some consumers are concerned about the use of thimerosal, a mercury-containing preservative,…, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website, . The , FDA also provides a list, of mercury-containing drugs, antibiotics, and vaccines as well as the types and percentages of mercury ingredients in each of these products., Paint:, Mercury was used as a preservative, but its use in indoor and exterior paint was discontinued in 1991. Until recently, many water-based paints, including some interior paints, continued to use mercury as a fungicide. Visit , www.epa.gov/iaq/homes/hip-painting.html, for more information about indoor environmental concerns during remodeling., Thermometers , (fever, candy, deep fry, oven, indoor, and outdoor): Mercury is used in glass thermometers because it is sensitive to changes in temperature. Thermometers are one of the largest sources of mercury in municipal solid waste. The few drops of mercury found in a common fever thermometer can contaminate a large number of fish. Today, consumers can purchase accurate alternatives such as digital or…, Thermostats:, Thermostats contain more than five times the amount of mercury found in a typical fever thermometer. Mercury-free electronic or digital thermostats are available as replacements. Mercury-containing thermostats should be recycled. To find a recycling location near you, visit , www.thermostat-recycle.org, . Once on the website, enter your zip code in the field where it says "find a TRC collection point near you." If there is not a TRC collection site near you, another option is to check with your local solid waste director or recycling coordinator. Some communities offer ongoing programs for hazardous household materials while other local programs may hold single-day collection events. Visit , Where to Recycle Locally, , or call the S.C. Department of Environmental Services Office of Solid Waste Reduction and Recycling at 1-800-768-7348 to identify your local recycling program contact. Other products that may contain mercury include: athletic shoes, toys, and cards that light up, pilot lights in gas appliances such as stoves, water heaters, furnaces, and dryers, older chemistry sets, and switches found in some…, For more information, contact SCDES's Office of Solid Waste Reduction and Recycling at 1-800-768-7348.SC Mercury Assessment and Reduction Initiative
mercury assessment and reduction initiative The S.C. Mercury Assessment and Reduction Initiative, ,, published in 2010, discusses assessment, monitoring and reduction efforts and recommends actions to accomplish those and other related goals. For information on how you can help to reduce mercury in the environment, please visit our Web page ., Fish, Mercury in South Carolina fish has been generally decreasing over the last 15 years. Many areas of the state continue to have fish consumption advisories . The S.C. Mercury Assessment and Reduction Initiative, ,, published in 2010, discusses assessment, monitoring and reduction efforts and recommends actions to accomplish those and other related goals. View pages 51 and 52 for information on mercury in fish., Air and Water, South Carolina air and water are safe for normal activities with respect to mercury. Air and water in the state contain some mercury, as is true across the nation and around the world. The mercury in South Carolina air transfers to water bodies, where the mercury risk in fish can accumulate at levels thousands of times higher than the surrounding water concentrations. However, the general air and…, Air Emissions and Deposition, In comparison to other states, South Carolina does not release high levels of mercury. South Carolina ranks in the middle range of states in amount of mercury air emissions. South Carolina, along with other eastern states, appears to receive more mercury in rain and snow than many of the western states. Please see The S.C. Mercury Assessment and Reduction Initiative (page 31) for a map of…, Hot Spots, South Carolina has some areas in the state that naturally speed up bioaccumulation in fish tissue, resulting in "hot spots" of contamination for some fish species. These water bodies in the Pee Dee and Edisto areas (often called "blackwater" streams, rivers and swamps), possess natural characteristics that convert more mercury to methylmercury (the highly toxic form of mercury that bioaccumulates…How to Reduce Mercury
There are many things that you can do to reduce mercury in the environment., Support Cleaner Energy, Buy tax-deductible blocks of green, renewable energy and have them added to South Carolina's power supply through Palmetto Clean Energy. Improve your home to be more energy efficient and benefit from tax incentives. Save energy at home in a variety of ways. Install a programmable thermostat and ensure the old one is recycled. Programmable thermostats usually pay for themselves in energy cost…, Recycle Products That Contain Mercury, By recycling mercury-containing products, you help ensure that mercury is not released into the environment or a building for human exposure. Recycling opportunities for many mercury-containing products are described in the S.C. Mercury Assessment and Reduction Initiative . Residents may call the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) Office of Solid Waste Reduction and…, Support Mercury Product Phase-out Legislation, Many states have passed legislation specifically addressing mercury-containing products as described in the S.C. Mercury Assessment and Reduction Initiative . One source of model legislation language is available at www.newmoa.org/prevention/mercury/modelleg.cfm ., Ask If Your School Is Mercury-free, There may be schools in South Carolina still storing or using mercury that could potentially cause exposure to students and staff. Ask if your school is mercury-free. If your school is not mercury-free, DHEC's Office of Solid Waste Reduction and Recycling may be of assistance at 1-800-768-7348 ., Support Dentists With Amalgam Separators, Dental offices can help to reduce mercury emissions to water by installing amalgam separators and following best management practices as recommended by the American Dental Association. The S.C. Dental Association and DHEC have partnered to encourage installation of amalgam separators. This partnership, which started in the spring of 2010, recognizes the leadership of specific dental offices that…, Support Mercury-free Health Facilities, Hospitals or other health care facilities may contain mercury in their equipment, such as blood pressure cuffs and thermometer, and in their laboratories. Some facilities have demonstrated leadership in this area by becoming mercury-free. Ask if your health care facility is mercury-free and support mercury-free facilities when possible., Support Businesses With Product Stewardship Programs, Product stewardship is the belief that the responsibility for reducing product impacts is shared between product manufacturers, retailers, government and consumers. Product stewardship principles usually encourage manufacturers to take increasing responsibility to reduce the entire life-cycle impacts of a product and its packaging. For products with toxic components, this often includes a…, Talk To Your Physician About Mercury-related Health Concerns, Talk to your physician if you are concerned about personal mercury-related health impacts. You may also wish to talk with your physician about any mercury-related health concerns if you are pregnant or may become pregnant. Your physician will help you decide if mercury testing is appropriate given your condition and symptoms. DHEC offers analytical services through your physician's office for…Congaree River Sediment Cleanup
Read more about the latest cleanup efforts. Congaree River, The Congaree River begins in Columbia where the Saluda River and Broad River join together. It is bordered on the east by the City of Columbia and on the west by the Cities of Cayce and West Columbia. It flows for approximately 47 miles until it merges with the Wateree River. Congaree National Park is located about halfway down the river's course. The Congaree River is a popular area for swimming…, The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) has confirmed the presence of a, tar-like material, (TLM) in the sediments and soils of the Congaree River between the Gervais and Blossom Street bridges. The source of the TLM was determined to be from discharges of coal tar from a former manufactured gas plant (MGP) originally located between Huger, Hampton, and Williams Streets and owned by SCE&G (now Dominion Energy). This MGP operated from 1906 until the mid-1950s. DHEC has been…Haile Gold Mine
Overview and History, The Haile Gold Mine is located in southern Lancaster County at 6911 Snowy Owl Road in Kershaw, South Carolina. Haile Gold Mine was one of the first operating gold mines in the United States after gold was discovered there in 1827 by Benjamin Haile. Haile Gold Mine has been operated on and off for nearly 200 years. Today, Haile Gold Mine is owned and operated by OceanaGold Corporation , a global…Johnson Controls Facility
This website is dedicated to providing environmental permitting, testing, and monitoring information about Johnson Controls Battery Group, Inc. - Florence Recycling Plant (Johnson Controls). Here you will find recent air emission stack test results and lead monitoring data., We have also included information on the Hazardous Waste and Air Quality permits, as well as the contact information for DHEC staff who can provide additional information. This website was created by DHEC and is being maintained in accordance with a settlement agreement between Johnson Controls, League of Women Voters of South Carolina, Coastal Conservation League and DHEC. The lead acid battery…Lake Conestee Dam
Photo courtesy of the Lake Conestee Dam Restoration Project., The, Lake Conestee Dam Restoration Project webpage, provides updates on the latest activities toward replacing the dam, as well as a livestream of the current construction project. , Lake Conestee Dam is located on the main stem of the Reedy River in Greenville County. The dam is one of the few stone masonry structures regulated under the South Carolina Dams and Reservoir Safety Act and is believed to have been constructed in the mid to late 1880s. The dam has reached the end of its original intended service life. Lake Conestee Dam is a unique structure. This interactive…, Documents, Recent Inspection Reports, Aug. 18, 2022 Dec. 11, 2019 Dec. 1, 2016, Investigative Reports, KleinSchmidt 2019 ReportMartin Marietta - Orangeburg Quarry
Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. has requested to modify its mine operating permit for the Orangeburg Quarry to expand the permit boundary by approximately 998.7 acres. The quarry is located at 950 County Line Road, Cross, S.C., approximately 6 miles southeast of Eutawville, SC (a portion of TMS #0370-00-00-001.000). A proposed reclamation plan to restore the site to lake/pond and grassland has…, Mining , DHEC’s Bureau of Land and Waste Management (BLWM) received an application to modify a mine operating permit for the Orangeburg Quarry on April 03, 2018. Documents used in the BLWM permitting process are available below: Cover Letter MR-1300: Application for Modifying a Mine Operating Permit MR-500: Reclamation Plan Mine Maps Initial DHEC Public Notice United States Army Corps of…, Virtual Public Meeting and Public Hearing , DHEC held a , Public Hearing, to accept comments on the proposed modification of the Martin Marietta Orangeburg Quarry on , September 9, 2021 at 6:00 pm. , A recording of the public meeting and public hearing and the presentation can be found below: Martin Marietta Public Meeting/Hearing Presentation - September 9, 2021 Martin Marietta Public Meeting/Hearing Recording - September 9, 2021 If you are unable to access the webpage, or have questions about participating in the public meeting or public hearing, please contact Jeremy Eddy no later than…, Local DHEC Contacts , To speak with someone in our local Environmental Affairs Lowcountry Regional Office, please contact Wendy Boswell (843) 953-0150 , or by email at boswelwm@dhec.sc.gov . For information on current or previous sites of public interest, visit SCDES's Environmental Sites of Interest webpage .Philip Services Corporation
(AKA ThermalKEM) The Philip Services Corporation (PSC) Site is located at 2324 Vernsdale Road in Rock Hill, South Carolina. The facility property consists of approximately 44.5 acres of former industrial property on the west side of Wildcat Creek. PSC also owned approximately 91 acres of undeveloped woodland on the east side of Wildcat Creek. The facility operated from approximately 1966 until…, DHEC extended the comment period through May 6, 2022, . DHEC filed the Settlement with the federal court for approval. Once the Settlement is finalized, the PRP Group, with oversight from DHEC, will begin work at the site to design and implement the final remedies for the cleanup of contaminated soil and groundwater as determined in the ROD. The cleanup technologies identified in the ROD and outlined in the Statement of Work associated with the…Plantation Pipe Line: Corrective Action Plan
On September 2, 2016, Plantation Pipe Line submitted a Corrective Action Plan (CAP) to the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (Department). The CAP was published for public comments between October 21, 2016 and December 6, 2016. Revisions to the CAP were provided to the Department March 2, 2017, May 26, 2017 and October 13, 2017. The Department provided final comments…