Contact Us about Mercury

Note that while we strive to respond to every question submitted with an answer or an appropriate referral as quickly as possible, responses can take some time. So before you submit your question, see the information below. 

Is your question about:

• Getting agency records that relate to mercury? Copies of most agency records must be obtained through the FOIA process; please do not request agency records using the form on this page. 
  • Learn more about FOIA.
  • Learn which records are available without a FOIA request.

• Exemptions from the Mercury Export Ban Act of 2008? Contact EPA's Mercury Export Ban Act team.

• The Mercury Inventory Reporting Rule of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)?
  • Read frequent questions on the final rule.
  • Contact the TSCA Help Desk at tsca-hotline@epa.gov for more information.

• Compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs)?
  • Read about the cleanup and safe disposal of CFLs.
  • Visit the Energy Star program's frequent questions; enter "CFL" or "CFL mercury" as your search term.
  • Call the ENERGY STAR Hotline at (888) STAR-YES (888-782-7937) between 9 AM and 5 PM, Eastern Time.

• Commenting or reading comments on a proposed rule? If so, go directly to regulations.gov, and follow the online instructions for submitting comments.

• The use of mercury-containing thimerosal in vaccines? While EPA has some information on thimerosal, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is the chief federal government agency responsible for regulating vaccines in the United States and, therefore, provides more detailed information on this subject. Resources from the FDA:
  • Statement on thimerosal in vaccines
  • Question and answer: What is thimerosal? Is it safe when used in some vaccines?
  • All questions and answers about thimerosal in vaccines

• Mercury exposures in your workplace?
  • The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), which issues health standards in the workplace, has information on their website about OSHA standards that apply to mercury.
  • From OSHA's Contact Us page, you can report unsafe working conditions and safety and health violations.
  • The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has adopted permissible limits for long-term and short-term exposures to mercury. You can view more information about these limits on NIOSH's pocket guides to hazards posed by mercury.

• Recycling products that contain mercury?
  • Recycling and disposing of mercury, CFLs, or other mercury-containing products? Counties and municipalities can give you guidance about how they recycle and dispose of batteries, bulbs, thermostats and other products that may contain mercury.
    • To find information about your county's or municipality's household hazardous waste programs, visit EPA's web page on where to take your used fluorescent light bulbs, including compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs), and other mercury-containing wastes, or search.earth911.com (enter "mercury" and your zip code at the top of the page).

  • Recycling thermostats? Contact your local household hazardous waste program (see the bullet immediately above this one). If they are unable to take your thermostat, you can contact the Thermostat Recycling Corporation (TRC), which facilitates the collection by heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) wholesalers from contractors of all brands of used, wall-mounted mercury-switch thermostats so that the mercury can be purified for re-use. TRC also has a page that shows state recycling programs. You can call 800-238-8192 to find an HVAC wholesale outlet or HVAC contractor in your area that will take the thermostat bulbs.

  • No household hazardous waste program in your county? Try contacting your state environmental agency. EPA has a list of state environmental agencies with links to their websites.

Didn't find the answer you were looking for? Submit your own questions to our staff librarians, fill out the form below.

Please bear in mind that we cannot provide answers to certain types of requests (e.g., commercial endorsements). Comments on specific EPA programs will be forwarded to the responsible office within the Agency.

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Washington, D.C. 20460

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