A U.S. Environmental Protection Agency study shows mercury releases from products declined between 1990 and 2005, but remained at dangerous levels.

Alexis Cain, lead author of the study and an EPA environmental scientist in Chicago, said mercury from products contributes nearly one-third of total U.S. mercury emissions into the air.

While a number of products release mercury, the releases are difficult to measure directly. Therefore, said Cain, there are considerable uncertainties about the magnitude of the problem.

Cain used a method called substance flow analysis to develop improved estimates of such releases.

Cain said mercury-containing products such as thermometers, switches, and even cremations (from mercury contained in dental fillings) released mercury throughout the product's life-cycle, including during production, use and disposal.

Cain's study shows that during 2000, mercury releases from products accounted for an estimated 32 percent of all mercury releases into air, 2 percent of mercury releases to land and 4 percent of mercury releases into water.

But estimated releases into air and land from 1990 to 2005 caused by mercury-containing products decreased an estimated 88 percent, with water releases decreasing 83 percent.

The study appears in the Journal of Industrial Ecology.

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