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Department of Ecology News Release - June 13, 2006
06-099
OLYMPIA - A major online retailer has taken a significant step to protect purchasers from hazardous mercury-containing products, but consumers need to beware because it is still possible to buy products that are illegal to sell in Washington state.
Since January 2006, it has been illegal in Washington to sell mercury-containing products such as thermometers, blood-pressure gauges, and novelty items such as toys and jewelry. The Legislature enacted the ban of sales within the state's borders to protect Washington residents from the toxic effects of mercury.
But it is still possible to purchase mercury-containing products online.
When the state Department of Ecology researched the largest sales sites, Amazon.com, Buy.com, Craig's List, eBay and Overstock.com, it found mercury-containing items on Amazon and eBay. Amazon responded immediately and is the first major online sales site to prohibit the use of its Web site to sell mercury-containing products. On the other hand, eBay has not removed these products from its site.
"We are pleased with the speed and professionalism of Amazon's response," said Miles Kuntz, Ecology's mercury-products ban coordinator. "They want to meet the requirements of the law and even said they would take action against any merchant who continues to list mercury products on Amazon.com. Working with them was a great experience because they showed concern for Washington laws and human health."
Retailers within Washington cooperated voluntarily with the state departments of Ecology and Health and removed the mercury-containing items that are part of the ban. However, the law does not apply to Internet sales that originate outside the state.
Ecology is hoping that eBay will follow Amazon's example, banning products that are hazardous to human and environmental health.
"Until they do, it's 'let the buyer beware' when it comes to online sales," said Kuntz. "If an online auction company won't voluntarily pull toxic products from its sales, Washington residents will need to watch out for themselves. They may be buying something that could contaminate their homes and endanger their families' health."
It is unlawful to transport mercury or mercury-containing products through the U.S. Postal Service. Yet, it is possible for Washington residents to unknowingly purchase dozens of mercury-containing items online, many of which are then shipped to the buyer through the mail without the knowledge of the Postal Service.
The potential danger of continuing this practice became a real-life emergency recently when a mercury spill on a Connecticut loading dock of the shipping company DHL was traced to a purchase on eBay. Twenty blood-pressure gauges containing mercury had been purchased on eBay and were shipped to the buyer in Connecticut, where the sales of mercury blood pressure gauges are illegal. During shipping, a mercury spill occurred creating the very hazard that the law banning the sales of these products was intended to prevent.
Mercury is a known toxic material that builds up in body tissue. In fetuses and young children, mercury exposure can lead to learning disabilities and damage to the heart and blood vessels. In adults, exposure to mercury may result in problems in the cardiovascular and central nervous systems. The main source of mercury exposure is through consumption of fish.
Products such as thermometers are not dangerous when intact. The problem arises with breakage and the resulting contamination.
Some mercury-containing products are not part of the ban. They include thermostats (only if the manufacturer is participating in a recycling program), fluorescent bulbs and batteries. Fluorescent bulbs are not illegal to sell, but the same law requiring the ban in January 2006, mandated that the bulbs be clearly labeled as mercury-containing since 2004.
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Contact: Miles Kuntz, mercury-products ban coordinator, 360-407-6748
Caitlin Cormier, public-information manager, 360-407-6149
For more information: Ecology's mercury site:
http://www.ecy.wa.gov/mercury/index.html
Information on the mercury ban:
http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/eap/pbt/hgproductban.html
The Department of Health mercury site:
http://www.doh.wa.gov/ehp/mercury/
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
