Mercury, known as quicksilver, or Hg (for hydrargyrum, the Latin name for the element), is a heavy, silver, metallic liquid at room temperature. While it is a naturally occurring element that is present throughout the environment, its concentration in surface water bodies has increased in recent decades. For years, mercury was mined from the earth in the solid form as the ore cinnabar (HgS), and was converted to metallic mercury by roasting or heating it in the presence of air or lime. 

In the United States, coal-fired power plants are the biggest source of mercury emissions to the air. Today, mercury is sourced domestically from secondary suppliers, with over 400 tons being produced and sold back into the marketplace annually, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries (1997). The toxicity of mercury makes it necessary to keep it contained and controlled from releases and spills, but the properties of mercury make it useful worldwide, as evidenced by many different applications in hospitals, schools, laboratories, industry and the home.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)	Mercury Projects and Programs
U.S. EPA Mercury Pages	Mercury in Specific Industry Sectors

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 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

GENERAL INFORMATION

• The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
  General questions covering what to do about a spill, how to tell if mercury exists in a lake, whether mercury causes cancer, what are fish advisories, how other states are dealing with mercury, etc.

• Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
  General questions such as what is mercury, where it comes from, what happens when mercury enters the environment, how one becomes exposed, existing regulations, etc.

FLUORESCENT LAMPS

• New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
  Questions concerning fluorescent lamps

• Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection
  Commonly asked questions about mercury-containing fluorescent lamps 

 U.S. EPA Mercury Pages

Region 5 - Auto Mercury Switch Removal
Information includes how to find, remove and replace mercury switches used in vehicle convenience lighting.

Mercury: In Your Community and the Environment
This package contains background materials on mercury for teachers and activities for students. Activities are designed for High School classes.

New England: Mercury, Health Issues, Fish Advisories
Discusses issues concerning mercury specific to the New England states. This site also links to the EPA mercury page and addresses the fish advisories unique to the New England.

Region 2 - Protecting Human Health
Region 2 covers states such as New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands and seven Tribal Nations. 

Region 5 - Toxics Reduction Team
Region 5 created this site to provide information about mercury reduction in the lakes and rivers of this region. 

Water Quality Criteria
EPA's fish tissue criterion for methylmercury to protect human health document.

U.S. EPA Mercury Page
EPA's mercury page provides a broad range of information from actions taken by EPA and others to mercury's effect on the environment and how to protect you and your family.

 Mercury in Specific Industry Sectors

Auto Repair and Fleet Maintenance
Dental
Hospital and Medical
Laboratories (Research and Testing)
Local Governments and POTWs