We are leaders in hazardous material surveys/assessments for mercury. 3D EnviroLogics has developed unique methods for characterizing wastes containing mercury that averts the disposal of contaminated debris in unsafe landfills.
Mercury can be found in many types of facilities. Hospitals, power plants, universities, laboratories, industrial facilities, and manufacturing factories that use mercury and/or have devices that contain mercury all have the potential for contamination. If any mercury was ever in a building, even long ago, there is chance for contamination.
Mercury is about 13 times more dense than water. This causes mercury to accumulate at the lowest elevation it can reach. In many buildings floor cracks and floor drains become the destination for spilled mercury. Unfortunately this means mercury that enters a floor drain, penetrates the soil, or is disposed in a landfill has the potential to reach streams and lakes, and even our drinking water. In humans and and the environment, mercury causes harm and is a health threat especially in young, developing organisms.
Public pollution prevention focuses on elimination of new mercury-containing products (manometers and all kinds of pressure gauges, switches, sphygmomanometers) but not as much focus is placed on old products, devices, and old spills. Legacy spills that often went unreported, remain in old facilities and can be introduced to the environment during renovations, demolition, etc. Also, the real occupational hazards are usually encountered by demolition workers when ventilation systems are shutdown in the construction site. They or occupants in the vicinity of demolition sites can be exposed to off-gassing (mercury vapor produced by liquid mercury) at dangerous levels. Mercury is not “out of sight, out of mind”.
For mercury detection, we have vastly expanded the capabilities of the most powerful detection tool for mercury, the Ohio Lumex Mercury Analyzer, to include spill areas on floor, cabinets, in pipes (wastewater and vacuum), and in soils. We use the instrument to perform waste characterization during the generation of construction debris to monitor the progress of clean-up efforts and prevent mercury from being released to the environment.
3DEL stresses the differences between avoidance of occupational exposures and environmental release of hazardous materials. We believe a person should not be unknowingly exposed to dangerous substances in a workplace or other building. Where mercury is concerned it is the negative environmental impacts in aquatic ecosystems that is the major concern. We monitor both types of contamination for human and environmental safety.