Presentations May 23 – 25, 2005 Portland, Maine For related information visit: http://www.newmoa.org/prevention/mercury/conferences
Jan 10, 2016
Presentations May 23 – 25, 2005 Portland, Maine
For related information visit: http://www.newmoa.org/prevention/mercury/conferences
Hazardous Chemicals in Schools
Achieving Mercury Reductions in Products and Waste
23 May 2005Kristina L. Meson, USEPA
School Chemicals: In the News
• “Maine - schools have uncovered stockpiles of potentially dangerous chemicals, including agents used in Chemical Warfare that could cost millions to clean up.” 10/18/04
• “Montana – Science teachers across Montana are being surveyed about the chemicals in their classrooms … stockpiles, some perhaps decades old.” 8/31/04
• NPR: Safety concerns of school chemistry labs. 1/22/04
• EPA - Region 4 responds to Mercury release in school. 4/19/04
• Des Moines, Iowa – “Experts hauled out and blew up several containers of unidentified chemicals found in school storage area.” 2/27/04
• Tokyo – “School officials failed to dispose of more than 1,000 bottles of radioactive waste.” 8/24/04
• Hawaii - “Hazmat crews and police converge on Kalani High School, after students got into a container of sodium cyanide.” 12/12/04
The Big Picture
• Schools are overburdened, underfunded and understaffed.
• Environmental health issues usually take a back seat.
• Stockpiles of chemicals, including mercury, are but one of many environmental and safety issues.
• Often schools do not have any staff that focus exclusively on environmental or environmental health issues.
Scope of Problem
• 53 million children and 6 million staff in 118,000 in K-12 schools in US.
• Chemicals include:– Explosives– Corrosives – Flammables– Toxics – Poisons – Radioactive materials
• Found throughout the school in science labs, art studios, and maintenance storage facilities.
Why Do We Care About Mercury?
• Play Video
Why Do We Care About Mercury in Schools?• Mercury and children do NOT mix!• Neurotoxic, heavy metal that is linked to
numerous health effects.• Found in products in schools and is often
used to demonstrate chemical principles.• Most likely route of exposure in schools
is inhalation after a spill or while “playing” with elemental mercury.
• Costly Cleanups and school closures.
EPA Data: The Tip of the Iceberg
– In 2004, EPA responded to 12 emergency removals involving mercury.
– Data represents a small percentage of incidents since most are handled at the local level and are never reported to national databases.
Case Study 1:Kiln, Mississippi
• September 2003: Mississippi DEQ requested an emergency response removal at two schools.
• Mercury Concentrations above EPA levels.
• Three school buses were contaminated – seats and flooring removed.
• Children’s clothing tested and some disposed.
• Total cleanup costs were $200,000.
Case Study 2: Washington, D.C.• On October 2, 2003 a student obtained 250
milliliters of liquid elemental mercury from a science laboratory.
• Contamination spread via several modes of transportation on student shoes and clothing.
• Breathing zone mercury vapor concentrations were greater than EPA standards.
• The school was closed for cleanup and reopened after about a month.
• Eleven homes and one common area were found to be contaminated and about 16 families were displaced for a month.
• Total cleanup costs were about $1,500,000.
Mercury Legislation
• 40 states have a partial ban
• At least 10 states specify a ban on mercury in schools
• At least 9 states have school mercury cleanout programs
State Hg Reduction Programs
• New York Dept. of Health– New outreach materials aimed at
different school audiences
• Minnesota – Mercury Free Zone– Clancy the Hg-sniffing dog
• Wisconsin – Schools Mercury Reduction Program
• Indiana – Mercury Awareness Program
What Can You do to Reduce the Amount of Mercury in Schools?
• Help educate students, other teachers and administrators about mercury.
• Promote proper management and recycling of mercury and mercury-containing products.
• Eliminate the use of mercury wherever possible at schools.
• Prevent mercury spills and know what to do if a spill occurs.
• Promote the use of alternative products that do not contain mercury.
Helpful Resources
• Mercury in your Community and the Environment (WI DNR)– http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/bnsdocs/merccom
m/merccomm.pdf• Safe Mercury Management
– http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/hazwaste/mercury/school.htm
• Mercury Collection/Recycling/Exchange Programs – http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/hazwaste/mer
cury/collction.htm• Cleaning up Mercury Spills
– http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/hazwaste/mercury/spills.htm
Schools Chemical Cleanout Campaign (SC3)
• Resource Conservation Challenge project initiated by EPA.
• Began in April 2004.
• Supports projects across the nation.– 10 regional pilots funded in 2004.
Is this your Image of School Chemical Storage?
This is the reality!
Nitric acid, oxidizer and corrosive.Fumes ate through plastic capthen oxidized cardboard box.Extreme fire riskSix pounds of cyanide right above it
Earthquake could mean gas chamber for 500 students
Hydrofluoric Acid• Anesthetic: acid doesn’t burn on contact• Deep tissue and bone disintegration• Extreme pain, can cause gangrene, amputation• Highly corrosive, dissolves glass• Used in Art & Chem classes for glass etching
Goals of the SC3
• Remove outdated, unknown, excessive, or unnecessarily hazardous chemicals from secondary schools;
• Prevent future stockpiles and reduce accidents by establishing prevention activities such as good purchasing and management practices;
• Raise national awareness of the problem.
Regional Initiatives• All funded programs involved a consortium
of partners:– State and Local Department of
Environments– School Districts - Administration– Chemical and Waste Management firms
• Chemicals identified for removal ranged from laboratory to cleaning chemicals.
• Trained personnel essential for identification and handling of chemicals, and education of school personnel.
What’s Happening in the Field• Technical experts make site visits to
schools to assess problems.• Work closely with school personnel on
solutions.• Trained personnel remove identified
chemicals.• Prevention practices implemented
(training, purchasing policies, green chemistry, etc.)
• Follow up.
Creating your own School Cleanout• Elements of successful programs include:
– On-site technical assistance and school audit;
– Teacher and administrator education and awareness-building;
– Funding for hazardous chemical disposal;
– Additional commitments from school to maintain proper chemical management .
Chemical Management Services Pilot
– Public/private partnership with GM/Lansing Public School District (RCC funded).
– Team consists of OSW, OPPTS, Region 5, Lansing, MI DEQ.
– Chemical Management Services (CMS) and Resource Management (RM) as a combined strategy to improve chemical and waste management in K-12 schools.
RCC Schools Cluster
• Exploring mutual environmental stewardship approaches for improving school chemical management.
• Partnerships are essential to success.– Council of State Science Supervisors– General Motors– Association of School Business Officials– National Science Education Leadership Assn– National Science Teachers Assn– Chemical Strategies Partnership (non-profit org)– State and Local governments
State Activities
• Illinois– School Chemical Collections are
mandated.– $800,000 grant just issued
• Michigan– $200,000 from bottle taxes designated
• Maine– Two proposals – bond; and pesticide
containers
Where do we go from here?
• Interim and final report on 10 SC3 pilot
• Lessons Learned from other SC3-type programs
• Outreach and Awareness materials
Helpful Resources
• Schools Chemical Cleanout Campaign– www.epa.gov/epaoswer/osw/conserve/clusters/
schools/index.htm
• Healthy School Environments– http://cfpub.epa.gov/schools/index.cfm
• Children’s Health Protection– www.epa.gov/children/
• Children’s Health Month– www.childrenshealth.gov
October is Children’s Health Month (2004 dates)
• October 1: Prevent Mercury Exposure at School
• October 2: Clean Mercury Spills Safely
• October 3: Replace Mercury Fever Thermometers
• October 4: Protect Children from Contaminated Fish
• October 5: Reduce Mercury Products in the Home and at School
• October 11: Protect Children from Chemicals in School
PresentationsMay 23 – 25, 2005Portland, Maine
Chemical (including Chemical (including Mercury) Management in Mercury) Management in
Maine SchoolsMaine Schools
Ann PistellAnn PistellMaine Department of Environmental ProtectionMaine Department of Environmental Protection
(207) 287-7703(207) 287-77031-800-452-19421-800-452-1942
Education
Financing
Nutrition programs
Teachers
Curricula
Salaries
Books
Title VIStudents w/ disabilities
Attendance
Class Size Budgeting
Athletics
Title 1Economically
disadvantaged students
TestScore
s
School FacilitiesMore seats
New construction
School siting
Repairs & renovation
O&M
Envir
onm
ent Health & Safety
HIV
AsthmaPregnancy
Drugs Violence
Injuries
Transportation
A School’s View of Environmental IssuesA School’s View of Environmental Issues
Credit: EPA Region I
•Maintenance AreasMaintenance Areas
•Vocational ShopsVocational Shops
•Science LaboratoriesScience Laboratories
•Art ClassroomsArt Classrooms
•Nurse’s OfficeNurse’s Office
•Administrative officesAdministrative offices
Where Are Hazardous Chemicals Where Are Hazardous Chemicals In Schools?In Schools?
Program HistoryProgram History• DEP responded to sixteen mercury spills in schools DEP responded to sixteen mercury spills in schools
over last three years.over last three years.
• Spills are costly so it was Spills are costly so it was decided it was better to go get decided it was better to go get
the mercury than to continuethe mercury than to continue responding to spills. responding to spills.
• After visiting a few schools, After visiting a few schools, program was broadened.program was broadened.
Why did we broaden the Why did we broaden the program?program?
WeWe found a whole host of problemsfound a whole host of problems
including:including:
This is a middle school. Chemicals stored alphabetically. This is a middle school. Chemicals stored alphabetically. Curriculum only called for about a dozen of these chemicals. Note Curriculum only called for about a dozen of these chemicals. Note acids on far right.acids on far right.
Improper Improper StorageStorage
Acids stored in an Acids stored in an unlocked metal unlocked metal cabinet designed cabinet designed for flammables. for flammables.
Clips holding Clips holding shelves were shelves were badly corroded.badly corroded.
This is This is afterafter we we took most acids took most acids out.out.
Hmmmm.. Methanol. Could tell by smell.Hmmmm.. Methanol. Could tell by smell.
Middle school Middle school science room.science room.
Gas in unlocked Gas in unlocked cabinet with unlocked cabinet with unlocked drawer full of matches drawer full of matches
next to it.next to it.
Gas lecture bottles in unlocked drawer of middle Gas lecture bottles in unlocked drawer of middle school. All highly flammable and/or explosive school. All highly flammable and/or explosive when exposed to heat, flame or oxidizers. Close to when exposed to heat, flame or oxidizers. Close to drawer with matches in previous slide. drawer with matches in previous slide.
Lack of knowledgeLack of knowledge
concerning the concerning the rules (At least they rules (At least they were not pouring it were not pouring it down the sink!). down the sink!). Most schools Most schools follow Flinn follow Flinn disposal methods – disposal methods – Illegal!!!Illegal!!!
Historic stockpilesHistoric stockpilesToxic Toxic
pesticides pesticides and oils in and oils in a drawer a drawer
that that hadn’t hadn’t been been
opened opened for 30+ for 30+ years!years!
Carbon tet. Toxic, carcinogen, Carbon tet. Toxic, carcinogen, bioaccumulative.bioaccumulative.
Condition of Condition of containers is very containers is very poor. All are poor. All are corrosives. Bottom corrosives. Bottom one is probably one is probably sulfuric acid.sulfuric acid.
Sodium, a Sodium, a flammable, flammable, corrosive solid. corrosive solid. Should be stored Should be stored under mineral oil.under mineral oil.
Water reactive, Water reactive, and forms and forms dangerous dangerous hydrogen gas and a hydrogen gas and a solution of solution of corrosive sodium corrosive sodium hydroxide.hydroxide.
Calcium Nitrate - strong oxidizer, may Calcium Nitrate - strong oxidizer, may explode if shocked or heated. Poor explode if shocked or heated. Poor
shelf life.shelf life.
Impure sulfuric acid. Listed for corrosivity and Impure sulfuric acid. Listed for corrosivity and reactivity. Aged – can tell by color.reactivity. Aged – can tell by color.
Sam’s Club effect Sam’s Club effect resulting from spend resulting from spend
it or it or lose it it or it or lose it monies and limited monies and limited budgets.budgets. A little too A little too
much mercuric much mercuric oxide!oxide!
OverstockOverstock
Structural Structural limitations oflimitations of
buildings.buildings.
Dysfunctional Dysfunctional
or inadequate or inadequate equipment equipment
Bromine (9/15/79) and Bromine (9/15/79) and unknown. Bromine is a PIH - unknown. Bromine is a PIH - Poison Inhalation Hazard, and Poison Inhalation Hazard, and needs special handling. needs special handling. Expensive to get rid of!Expensive to get rid of!
DonationsDonations
These were ‘gifts’ from a These were ‘gifts’ from a college that was closing to college that was closing to several local high schools.several local high schools.
The teacher The teacher insisted he was insisted he was really using this! really using this! Note the bottles Note the bottles around it.around it.
Should be stored Should be stored in dedicated base in dedicated base cabinet but wasn’t. cabinet but wasn’t. Serious eye and Serious eye and respiratory irritant.respiratory irritant.
Human NatureHuman Nature
Nobody we Nobody we visited was in visited was in compliance.compliance.
So DEP started a Mercury and So DEP started a Mercury and Chemical Clean-out ProgramChemical Clean-out Program
Current Chemical Management Current Chemical Management Requirements in MaineRequirements in Maine
•May not purchase mercury or mercury instruments.May not purchase mercury or mercury instruments.
•Must have a current inventory of all hazardous Must have a current inventory of all hazardous chemicals.chemicals.
•Must have a Chemical Hygiene Plan, chemical Must have a Chemical Hygiene Plan, chemical
hygiene officer and a chygiene officer and a chemical purchasing policyhemical purchasing policy..
•May not have a more than a two year supply of any May not have a more than a two year supply of any hazardous chemical. hazardous chemical.
• Must follow state and federal disposal rules for Must follow state and federal disposal rules for hazardous waste.hazardous waste.
School mustSchool must
• sign a Participation Agreementsign a Participation Agreement
• designate a primary contactdesignate a primary contact
• primary contact must come to trainingprimary contact must come to training
• inventory chemicals and develop CHPinventory chemicals and develop CHP
• spend $500 at a minimum if they have spend $500 at a minimum if they have significant amount of hazardous waste.significant amount of hazardous waste.
DEP’s role in programDEP’s role in program
•Hire hazardous waste contractor Hire hazardous waste contractor
•Develop and provide chemical inventory Develop and provide chemical inventory form (now available on DEP web site)form (now available on DEP web site)
•Provide free training workshopsProvide free training workshops
•On site technical assistance if requestedOn site technical assistance if requested
•Coordinate quotes and pick-upsCoordinate quotes and pick-ups
•Pay for contractor transportation and for Pay for contractor transportation and for mercury disposal. Typical cost = $7-800.mercury disposal. Typical cost = $7-800.
Mercury. So far we have collected over 700 lbs. of Hg, Mercury. So far we have collected over 700 lbs. of Hg, 6500 lbs. and over 1000 gallons of hazardous waste 6500 lbs. and over 1000 gallons of hazardous waste from about 80 schools.from about 80 schools.
The Program’s Challenges and FutureThe Program’s Challenges and Future
•Chemical management regulated by three Chemical management regulated by three state agencies: DOE, DOL and DEP. state agencies: DOE, DOL and DEP.
•Inconsistent enforcement of rules.Inconsistent enforcement of rules.
•No formalized program or mandate at DEP.No formalized program or mandate at DEP.
•Lack of funding.Lack of funding.
Note to students from teacher!Note to students from teacher!
THE ENDTHE END
PresentationsMay 23 – 25, 2005Portland, Maine
Mercury Reduction in Schools
Chris Butler, Carol Hubbard, ClancyMinnesota Pollution Control Agency
Why Eliminate Hg from Schools?
Health and environmental
risk
LiabilityNegative
public relations
Mercury Exposure Pathways
Inhalation hazard Volatile at room
temperature Enters through the lungs
into blood stream
Skin contact
Ingestion Elemental mercury ingestion Hg methylates and collects
in fish
Mercury Affects Tissue
Normal
Mercury exposure
Minnesota Department of Health
Chronic US EPA = 300 ng/m3
Lifetime exposure - No adverse effect
Acute California REL =
1,800 ng/m3
Exposure of 1 hour/day during gestation
Mercury health-based exposure values:
Are Schools Safe?
Chronic
Acute
St. Olaf College
Babbitt HS
Highland Park HS
Cleveland JHS
0500
2,000
5,000
ng/m
3
69,000 ng/m3
Clancy – Star of the Show
ClancyMakes News
Clancy at Work
Sniffing out Mercury
Mercury from One School
Elemental mercury
Thermometers
Bar
omet
ers
Mercury compounds
Sling psychrometer
Mercury Sources, Labs
Mercury-containing Medical Equipment
Other Sources
Mercury in Drains
Mercury-free Alternatives
Thermometers – Ever-Safe (Fisher)– Manufactured by MERCK
– Isoamyl benzoate, C12H16O2
– Accuracy ± 1 scale division– Column doesn’t separate
Digital and Eco Celli
BarometerBlood pressure cuff with dial
450 schools pledged mercury free
150 mercury assessments
1000 lb of Hg kept out of environment
Average – 2 pounds per school
Contact Information
Chris Butler, MPCA
218-723-2358 / 800-657-3864
Carol Hubbard, [email protected]
http://www.pca.state.mn.us/programs/mercury-freehttp://www.mercuryinschools.uwex.edu/