Advisory Committee on Mercury Pollution
Meeting #69: Thursday, November 2, 2006
Time: 9:00 am to 12:00 pm
Location: Chittenden Solid Waste District’s Administrative Office
1021 Redmond Road, Williston, VT.
MINUTES
Members Present:
Michael Bender, Abenaki Self-Help Association, Inc.
Bill Bress, Vermont Department of Health
Representative Carol Reed Hosford
John Berino, Vermont Association of Hospitals and Health Systems
Ruma Kohli, Chemical Management Program Manager, IBM, Burlington
Mary Jean Rajda, Porter Medical
Jennifer Holliday, Chittenden Solid Waste Management District
Eric Palmer, Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, Fish and Wildlife
Gary Gulka, Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, Environmental Assistance
Via telephone:
Neil Kamman, Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, Water Quality Division
Guests Present:
Miriam Sheehey, Vermont Department of Health
Jakki Flanagan, VPIRG
Peter Taylor, Vermont State Dental Society
Jamie Feehan, Vermont State Dental Society
Laurey Tedeschi, Autism Support Daily
Allison DeMag, Alliance of Auto Manufacturers
Karen Knaebel, Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, Environmental Assistance
Alison McKay, Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, Environmental Assistance
Via telephone:
Elena Lymberidi, European Environmental Bureau
The Committee members and interested parties gathered at the Chittenden Solid Waste District’s Administrative Office and by phone. Michael Bender called the meeting to order.
Agenda Item 1
Accept minutes from June meeting and possible changes to today’s agenda.
- The Committee approved the minutes from the June 6, 2006 meeting with no changes.
Agenda Item 2
Discussion with Dr. Lohff, Vermont Department of Health (VDH) – State Epidemiologist regarding Thimerosal.
- Miriam Sheehey, Public Health Nurse (Immunization Program), VDH filled in for Dr. Lohff, who was unable to attend.
- Ms. Sheehey gave an overview about Thimerosal:
- Thimerosal has been used as a preservative in vaccines since the 1930s.
- Currently, the Influenza vaccine is the only vaccine containing Thimerosal being used in Vermont. This vaccine was first suggested for children between the ages of 6-35 months. The age limit was broadened to include vaccine for children between 6 months -5 years.
- The Vermont Health Department provides approximately 90% of the pediatric vaccines in the state. No adult vaccines are provided by VDH. The purchase of vaccines is funded through a grant from the Federal government to ensure vaccination for all the pediatric population from 0-18 years. There is an allocation of specific amounts of vaccines based on population. The VDH makes a determination of the quantity needed based on previous years as the vaccine has a shelf life of about November to June and what is not used must be discarded. Vaccines are manufactured based on what strains of flu exist at the time.
- Vaccine orders are placed for the next year in April/May with delivery taking place in September/October. This is the first year that Vermont has been able to purchase preservative-free vaccines. The state requested 20,000 preservative-free vaccines out of which only 3,000 mercury-free vaccines were made available.
- It was noted that private practices would have more availability to purchase the non-mercury vaccine as they can order directly from the company.
- Question was posed as to whether more vaccines could be made available to the State of Vermont if it had legislation requiring Thimerosal-free vaccines. Ms. Sheehey said it would not matter, if there was more money the state could potentially purchase more preservative-free vaccines and would only be limited by the available supply, not Federal allocation.
- The VDH says there is a balance between the protection against flu disease verses their hands being tied as to the amount of mercury-free vaccine they are able to procure. They would like to offer some level of care without having to make that decision. They believe risk of having influenza is greater.
- Question as to the experiences of other states who have banned the Thimerosal vaccine and their ability to purchase mercury-free vaccines. Ms. Sheehey advised the Committee that she would research this and supply the information to the Committee via e-mail. It is believed that there are at least seven states that now have legislation banning Thimerosal vaccines.
- The Committee expressed concern that Vermont would be a possible location where vaccine manufacturers would sell vaccines which contained Thimerosal if there was not a law in place in Vermont to prohibit the sale. On the same note if legislation was passed, there was concern that VDH would not be able to procure the needed non-mercury vaccine or be limited by funding to a lesser quantity of doses to fulfill the same need.
- Question as to the cost comparison of Thimerosal vs. mercury-free vaccines and how many discarded products would VDH anticipate. Ms. Sheehey will get back to the Committee with this information.
- Carol Hosford mentioned a law suit in Texas filed against the FDA for not adhering to legislation in certain states and this lawsuit could set the tone for potential legislation in Vermont. Representative Hosford would make information available to the Committee regarding this lawsuit.
Agenda Item 3
Update on grocers mailing and annual conference.
- A joint letter signed by the VDH and the Grocers Association was mailed to all grocer’s and licensed seafood vendors in the state requesting they post the information provided in the mailing at a visible location in their stores; preferably at the seafood counter. Jim Harrison from the Grocer’s Association also included information in a grocer’s newsletter and provided 1100 copies of a DEC poster regarding mercury levels in fish you buy and fish you catch.
- Karen Knaebel attended the grocer’s annual conference where grocers acknowledged receiving the information that was mailed in the joint letter.
- Bill Bress suggested that Vermont sanitation inspectors could see if information regarding mercury in fish had been posted, while doing their inspections.
- Connecticut is interested in carrying out similar efforts in their state.
- Vermont Department of Fish & Wildlife has agreed to include mercury-in-fish posters in their next mailing to licensed agents in December.
Agenda Item 4
European Union Restrictions of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Directive Update.
- Elena Lymberidi from the European Environmental Bureau gave an overview of the EU Directive regarding Restrictions of Hazardous Substances.
- These directives place bans on new electrical and electronic equipment containing more than agreed levels of lead, cadmium, mercury, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyl (PBB) and polybrominated diphenyl ether(PBDE) flame retardants from being sold on the EU market beginning July 1, 2006. This directive excludes such items as measuring devices and medical devices.
- China and Japan have been working on similar requirements as well. Ruma Kohli will provide information to the Committee when this is available.
- Ruma Kohli also discussed how the RoHS Directive has impacted the IBM Global Supply Chain and also the material management challenges.
- The Committee noted how the overseas directives have potential to influence labeling and other mercury product legislative requirements in Vermont.
Agenda Item 5
Auto Switch update.
- Gary Gulka discussed the most recent efforts towards implementing the auto switch program in Vermont.
- Town clerks and zoning administration were contacted to verify the list of auto salvage yards doing business in Vermont.
- Letter to be sent out to 170 salvage businesses to let them know about the requirements. A postcard will also be enclosed for the business to return; clarifying their operations and proper shipping address.
- End of Life Vehicle Solutions (ELVS) is coordinating with Vermont DEC and will be sending out materials for salvage yards to participate in this program once the auto salvage yard list is culled. Also, a national program has been developed and timely to the Vermont program. It will provide a bounty to the salvage yards of $1.00 per mercury-added convenience light switch and $3.00 per ABS switch.
- Vermont will get back information from ELVS to report how many switches have been collected and processed. The information will be available before the end of 2007 and give some idea as to the progress of this program.
Agenda Item 6
Peter Taylor of the Vermont State Dental Society (VSDS), with regards to the proposed development of a brochure about dental amalgam.
- Question to Peter Taylor as to the response to the ACMP letter regarding the development of a dental brochure.
- Mr. Taylor gave an overview of the position of the Vermont State Dental Society (VSDS) and stated:
- The VSDS represents 90% of the dentists and is the main source of continuing education for practicing dentists. They maintain that dental amalgam is safe and they promote patient-doctor communication.
- Mr. Taylor stated that the VSDS has maintained a working relationship with the Agency and on a voluntary basis:
- worked to develop dental BMPs
- collected 120 lbs of elemental mercury from practices in 2002
- worked with the Agency on a 30 question, 11 page BMP self-certification which dentists must file every 2 years
- VSDS would not like to see a legislative mandate regarding a specific brochure to be given to patients under certain circumstances. There are many brochures available and VSDS promotes the use of those materials.
- VSDS asks that the Committee reconsider the recommendations made in the 2004-2005 legislative report.
- VSDS welcomes further studies but believes it is too soon to start regulating dental amalgam in this way.
- The ACMP requested that the VSDS provide a written response to the ACMP letter.
Agenda Item 7
Set date and agenda for next meeting.
- The Committee set the date for the next meeting on Tuesday, November 28th from 9am-1pm. The suggested location was a conference room at the State Complex in Waterbury.
- Suggested agenda items for the next meeting:
- Administrative point -Rotating of the chair person
- Surplus mercury issue
- Thimerosal
- Discussion of annual report
- Monitoring update from Neil Kamman
- Crematoria item to be moved as an agenda item for next year
- Dental survey would not be going out until the end of November with results mid-December – not on this agenda
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