This presentation provides important information on mercury and where it can be found, as well as strategies for measuring vapor levels and remediation techniques. At the end of the presentation, you'll find real-world case studies that will drive these lessons home.

1. Mercury Spills & How You
Can Avoid Them
Lessons from real-world emergency responses

2. Meet Your Moderator:
James Ciccone

3. During This Webinar
 All lines will be muted.
 Communicate via the questions tab in your
webinar panel.
 Unanswered questions will be responded to after
the webinar.
 Webinar recording and slides will be emailed to
you tomorrow.

4. Meet Your Presenter
Ryan Miller
Engineering Project Manager
Triumvirate Environmental

5. Agenda
Background on Mercury
Mercury Vapor Measurement & Regulations
Mercury Spill Response
Case Studies
Summary/Q&A

6. What is Mercury?
• Naturally occurring element that in its
pure form is a liquid that volatizes
readily
• Exposure at high levels can harm the
brain, heart, kidneys, lungs, and
immune systems
• Mercury vapor is colorless and
odorless

7. Where Can
It Be Found?
Thermometers
Barometers
Manometers
Light bulbs
Thermostats
Coal and other rocks
Coal-burning power plants are the
largest human-caused source of
mercury emissions to the air in the
United States

9. Why is Mercury Used?
Mercury has a unique combination of physical properties:
• Low Melting Point: -38°F (Lead for example is 622°F)
• Low Boiling Point: 674°F (Lead for example is 3,182°F)
• Uniform volume expansion over the entire range of
temperatures in its liquid state and high surface tension
(does not wet glass)

10. Mercury
Devices in
Your Facility

11. Poll Question
Are you storing old,
obsolete, or unused
mercury containing
devices?

12. Mercury in
Plumbing
Mercury poured into drains
can remain in the plumbing
indefinitely, until it is
physically removed or the
plumbing is replaced.

13. Mercury in
Plumbing

14. Mercury in Soil

15. Agenda
Background on Mercury
Mercury Vapor Measurement & Regulations
Mercury Spill Response
Case Studies
Summary/Q&A

16. Mercury Vapor
Measurement
• Various methods are used to detect
and quantify mercury vapors in air
• Vapor detection limits vary
significantly
• Regulations and guidance
concentrations can be in milligrams
per cubic meter (mg/m3),
micrograms per cubic meter (ug/m3),
or nanograms per cubic meter
(ng/m3)

17. Mercury Vapor Measurement

18. Mercury Vapor Measurement
Triumvirate utilizes the Jerome J-505 for most mercury vapor monitoring activities.
Monitoring Device Detection Limit
Dräger tubes 0.05 mg/m3
Jerome J-505 0.00005 mg/m3
Lab (EPA Method 6009) 0.002 mg/m3
Lumex 0.00005 mg/m3
Jerome 431-X 0.003 mg/m3 (± 0.003 mg/m3)
X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) Analyzer 10 to 20 mg/kg

19. Mercury Meter Interferences
• Potential interferences to the Jerome 431-X mercury vapor analyzer have been
identified and are listed in the Manufactures Owners Manual
• Erroneously high readings can sometimes occur with the presence of:
• Hydrocarbons
• High levels of CO, CO2, and SO2
• Water vapor/condensation
• Chlorine and Ammonia
• NO2
• Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S)
• Most mercaptans (organic sulfur compounds or “thiols”)
• There are no known interferences with the Jerome J505 or Lumex meters

20. Regulations and
Guidance
• OSHA established a PEL as a ceiling value of
0.1 mg/m3, the only legally enforceable federal
U.S. standard
• NIOSH set a REL of 0.05 mg/m3 as a 10-hour,
time weighted average
• The ACGIH recommended the most recent
occupational exposure standard as the TLV-
TWA of 0.025 mg/m3
• The ATSDR recommends risk managers
isolate humans from mercury spills when a
concentration level of ≥ 0.01 mg/m3

21. Clean Up Guidance
CLEANUP GUIDANCE
ATSDR Limits
<0.001 mg/m3 - Residential occupancy
level and immunocompromised
<0.010 mg/m3 – Acceptable personal
effects level
>0.010 mg/m3 – Residential isolation
0.003 mg/m3 - Re-occupancy after
spill
0.025 mg/m3 – Occupational setting
where mercury is handled (1/4 PEL)

22. Agenda
Background on Mercury
Mercury Vapor Measurement & Regulations
Mercury Spill Response
Case Studies
Summary/Q&A

23. Worker Health and Safety
Spills within a facility can pose a threat
to worker health and safety and to
building occupants:
• Improper PPE
• Cross Contamination
• “Hot Spots”
• Improper Clean Up
• Improper Waste Disposal

24. Triumvirate’s Mercury
Spill Response
In Emergency Response situations, Self-
Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) is used
to determine mercury vapor levels.
Once baseline levels are determined and the
appropriate level of PPE is determined, a full
mercury decontamination is performed.

25. Clean Up Standard Operating Procedure
Every response is unique, but some basic concepts for
mercury remediation are universal. These universal concepts
include the following:
• Isolate the area
• Set up zones
• Remove visible mercury
• Don’t cross contaminate
• Select a grid pattern for screening
• Remediate to the appropriate cleanup standards
• Properly dispose of all materials

26. Mercury Clean Up Products &
Equipment
Triumvirate utilizes multiple mercury
cleanup products to effectively
eliminate mercury vapor releases,
including:
• Mercury Vacuums
• Mercury Amalgamation
• Mercury Vapor Adsorption

27. How They Work
Mercury Vacuum
Mercury Amalgamation Powder
Mercury Vapor Adsorption Powder

28. Mercury Vacuum

29. Waste Disposal
• The most common disposal method is
mercury retort
• Solid and liquid bearing wastes are put
through a controlled high vacuum retort
system that recycles mercury
• The mercury can be recycled up to
99.99995% purity, and can be used on a
wide variety of applications

30. Remediation Reports
Reports include:
• Background information
• Summary of cleaning activities
• Mercury screening levels
• Photographs
• Recommendations and
conclusions
• Disposal documentation
Reports are provided in electronic format

31. Agenda
Background on Mercury
Mercury Vapor Measurement & Regulations
Mercury Spill Response
Case Studies
Summary/Q&A

32. Case Study: Mercury
Vapor Turbines

33. Case Study: Mercury
Vapor Turbines
• Demolition and removal of equipment within a
power plant was underway
• Elemental mercury was identified on the floor,
and subsequently identified throughout the
area
• The mercury was released from the mercury
vapor turbine circulation system piping
• Initial air screening was performed in the air
inside the area of the release, and site
boundaries were established

34. • Equipment, debris, worker clothing, tools, and
anything in the vicinity of the release were
assessed for visible mercury and the presence
of mercury vapor
• Segregation of contaminated vs. clean
materials was conducted
• Additionally, preferential migration pathways
were assessed, contractor vehicles, waste
containers, bags of asbestos, and stockpiled
scrap were screened
Case Study: Mercury
Vapor Turbines

35. Contamination Grid

36. Clean Up Activities
• After equipment segregation, vacuuming of dust and
debris was conducted and the areas screened
• Areas below the action level (0.003 mg/m3) were
excluded from further decontamination, covered and
secured from disturbance or entry by workers and
visitors
• Areas with elevated concentrations of mercury vapor
were washed with mercury amalgamation powder
• Mercury vapor levels were screened and the wash
process repeated until levels were below the action
level

37. Clearance Sampling & Reporting
• Personal air sampling pumps and sorbent tubes were
used to collect clearance samples in accordance with the
NIOSH 6009 method
• The sampling included a background sample and trip
blank for quality assurance and quality control purposes
• The mercury vapor results were reviewed and found to
be below the action level, and the area was released for
normal occupancy
• A project summary report was provided documenting a
detailed description of remediation activities and all
supporting information

38. Case Study: Broken
Sphygmomanometer
• Evacuate the area and limit access
• Screen for mercury vapor concentration levels
• Set up zones, including decontamination area
• Begin decontamination activities
• Obtain mercury vapor clearance level of 0.001 mg/m3 throughout the
area
• Collect all remediation waste for proper storage and disposal

39. Case Study: Leaking Manometer

40. Case Study: Mercury in Lab Piping

41. Case Study: Mercury in Lab Piping
• Remove each sink trap, collect the
contents, and screen with a Jerome
J-505
• Traps with detections were removed
and containerized for proper disposal
• Remaining laboratory waste piping
was screened, and any piping with
detections was cut and containerized
for proper disposal
• All piping was removed until there
were no detections on the Jerome

42. Agenda
Background on Mercury
Mercury Vapor Measurement & Regulations
Mercury Spill Response
Case Studies
Summary/Q&A

43. Summary
Mercury devices can be removed/disposed
before a spill happens
Mercury remediation is costly and time
consuming
Improper cleanup can lead to worker
exposure
Triumvirate is here to help

44. QUESTIONS?

45. Thank You For Attending!
You Will Receive:
• A recording of this presentation and
a copy of this presentation
• A link to a short survey
• An offer to help you avoid a
mercury spill emergency
Attend Future Events:
• http://www.triumvirate.com/training/events