Experiences from phasing out the use of mercury in Sweden |
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Authors: | Kristina von Rein Lars D Hylander |
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Institution: | Naturv?rdsverket, Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, 106 48 Stockholm, Sweden,
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Abstract: | The Swedish parliament has decided that the use of mercury (Hg) in society should be phased out by the target year 2000 and
substituted with alternative, less harmful elements or compounds. This is to reduce exposure to the toxic heavy metal, levels
of which have increased two to seven times in the Swedish environment during the last century. Mercury in products and goods
in use in Sweden has been estimated at 100 tonnes Hg, which will slowly be released into the environment if no preventative
measures are taken. To avoid handing over unsolved environmental problems and connected costs to future generations, the Swedish
government commissioned the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to improve the efficiency of Hg collection and to
find a solution for terminal storage of the waste. The result is that the Swedish EPA considers deep storage in rock, accompanied
by technical measures to further reduce the risk of future Hg emissions to be the safest method. It has funded approximately
50 projects with the goal of spreading information about the Hg problem and removing Hg from society. The projects have focused
on areas where there is a great risk of Hg in products and goods entering the environment. About 6 tonnes Hg has so far been
collected in these projects – end of 1999 – and the cost of the Hg collected has varied between 70 and 1300 US$ kg–1 Hg. The projects were more cost-effective than traditional inspection by an official due to local participation, use of Hg-tracker
dogs, and employment of professional electricians in the search for Hg. The involvement of school children and the public
has resulted in an increased awareness of environmental matters, and, together with the emptying of water seals, reduced Hg
levels in municipal sewage sludge.
Electronic Publication |
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Keywords: | Mercury clean-up Public participation Phasing out mercury Sweden |
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