Why are Mercury Emissions from Municipal Landfills a Potential Problem?
Mercury is a potent neurotoxin that can affect the brain, liver and kidneys, and cause developmental disorders in children. Young children and developing fetuses are especially at risk. Mercury is found in a variety of products, such as fluorescent and other lights, batteries, electrical switches and relays, barometers, and thermometers, much of which ends up in municipal landfills. The mercury contained in these products can evaporate into the air or leach into the groundwater from the landfills. Researchers are just beginning to quantify and understand how much mercury is emitted to the atmosphere from landfills, and the data suggest that potentially important losses are occurring. Mercury leaching from landfills into groundwater has been studied more than air emissions. Available data show that mercury in groundwater can exceed drinking water standards from older, unlined landfills, but is less likely to leach into groundwater from landfills that are lined and use leachate collectio
