Editor's Focus--A Less Than Mercurial Pace

Although the metallic element mercury may have been named for the planet Mercury rather than the god, it travels quickly in a state of matter that at room temperature looks somewhere in between liquid and solid.

While mercury is interesting to observe behind glass in a thermometer or barometer, an observer will not want to get into close and frequent contact with the substance. Certain types of exposure to mercury can lead to kidney damage or even central nervous system damage.

As a percentage of materials that make up the typical passenger vehicle, mercury checks in at well below 1 percent. But the toxicity of mercury is the source of a problem that has pitted auto dismantlers, scrap recyclers, steel mills and auto manufacturers potentially against one another, or in various alliances with and against one other.

For years, auto manufacturers and their suppliers have been using mercury within lighting fixture switches in automobiles. One might think that in such small amounts, a "dilution is the solution" approach would prevent concern about these traces of mercury, but that is not necessarily the case.

Emissions tests from some electric arc furnace steel mills have shown the presence of mercury in amounts above recommended levels, causing concern among citizens who live near the mills, as well as with the U.S. EPA.

Trade associations representing all of the concerned parties have proclaimed that their industries are willing to head off this problem, by both phasing out use of the switches and removing them from scrapped cars.

But good intentions are coupled with no intention of being stuck with the tab. Steel mills say they are buying a scrap product for their furnaces that simply should not contain unwanted and potentially harmful mercury. Recyclers and dismantlers say any such removal required of them should also require sufficient compensation, similar to how auto dealers are compensated for recall work.

Auto manufacturers respond that dismantlers and recyclers profit from their activities, so they should assume the chore and accompanying liability for removing switches when they take possession of obsolete automobiles.

As in most cases, such opposed thinking has led to a standoff. And as is typical in these cases, all concerned say they do not want to see the EPA or Congress enact a mandatory solution, but would prefer to keep negotiating.

With negotiating points now on the table, the interested parties will need to decide quickly whether to press for the best deal they can work out amongst themselves or whether to turn matters over to the federal government and hope their lobbyists, trade groups and individual members can make the best argument in front of legislators and regulators.