[CPEO-MEF] Mercury in Mustard Agent

[Lenny Siegel <lsiegel@cpeo.org>]

Proposal extends burner deadline to 2016

Tooele Transcript-Bulletin (UT)  	
by Mark Watson    	
May 11, 2006

Tooele Chemical Agent Disposal Facility (TOCDF) facility plans to start 
burning mustard blister agent this summer after several months of 
testing and replacing equipment at the facility.

"We have 6,219 pounds of mustard left in bulk containers.," said Deseret 
Chemical spokesperson Alaine Southworth. "There is potential mercury 
contamination in about 15 to 20 percent of the mustard. During the first 
three years we will burn mustard that contains little or no mercury."

Gary Mahall, spokesman for the U.S. Army Materials Agency, said the 
mercury is not an element in mustard agent, but was discovered in metal 
containers containing mustard.

"We're concerned because mercury is a heavy metal and when it settles 
out of the air it finds its way into the food chain. It can seep down 
into the water system," Mahall said.

...

For the entire article, see
http://www.tooeletranscript.com/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=12979&Itemid=54
--


Lenny Siegel
Director, Center for Public Environmental Oversight
c/o PSC, 278-A Hope St., Mountain View, CA 94041
Voice: 650/961-8918 or 650/969-1545
Fax: 650/961-8918
<lsiegel@cpeo.org>
http://www.cpeo.org


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