Buffalo Police Fleet Sheds Toxic Mercury
For Immediate Release:
April 25, 2001
For Information:
Alexandra McPherson, Great Lakes United: 886-0142
Tom Corbett, NYS DEC, 851-7255
Lieutenant Baehre, Buffalo Police Department, 851-4561
(Buffalo) Automobiles contain large amounts of mercury in tilt switches used in
hood and trunk lighting devices. The Buffalo Police Department has joined forces
with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) and
Great Lakes United by participating in a Western New York Program to replace the
switches with mercury-free alternatives. Mercury is highly toxic to humans and
is released to the atmosphere when autos are shredded and then melted to make
new steel.
"As a community, it is in our best interest to ensure that mercury does not enter
the environment" said Tom Corbett, an environmental chemist who works in the NYSDEC
Buffalo office. " The Buffalo Police Department is leading by example in the fight
to prevent mercury pollution", Corbett said.
Each switch contains one gram of mercury, approximately the same amount of mercury
found in household fever thermometers. Thermometers are now being banned by many
city and state governments due to increasing concern about the health risks associated
with disposal of mercury containing products. According to a new report released
by the Center for Disease Control, the number of children exposed to health-threatening
levels of mercury in the womb has risen to 375,000.
Nearly 200 tons of mercury remains in vehicles on the road today. Although U.S.
automakers have committed to phasing out the use of mercury switches, twenty-two
models in the 2001 cars still contain mercury in the tilt switch. Foreign automakers
phased out the switch in the early 1990s in response to Sweden's mercury switch
ban.
"We are committed to managing wastes in a responsible manner," said Rocco J. Diina,
Commission of the Buffalo Police Department. "This project is good for the environment
and helps to protect the health of our community," concluded Rocco.
State legislation mandating manufacturer collection systems for all mercury added
products sold in the state has been introduced by Assemblyman Brodsky and Senator
Balboni. Alexandra McPherson, Clean Production Coordinator for Great Lakes United
voiced support stating, "We believe automakers should take responsibility for
this problem by establishing a collection program for vehicle components that
contain mercury. "
Please visit the Clean Car Campaign's website, www.cleancarcampaign.org for
more information.
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