Evaluating Chemical Regulations: Trade-Off Analysis and Impact Assessment for Environmental Decision-Making: A Case Study on the Suspension of Alkylmercury Seed Treatments, A Case Study on the Regulation of Mercury Water Discharges by the Chlor-Alkali Industry, A Case Study on the Use of Mercury in Contraceptives

摘要

This is a set of three case studies examining the environmental/health, economic, and legal impacts of specific regulatory policies on the use of mercury and mercury compounds. Included in the set are (1) the initial action by the Department of Agriculture in early 1970 suspending the registrations of alkyl-mercury fungicides for use in treating seeds, (2) the actions by Interior and Justice in mid-1970 to secure reductions in mercury water discharges by the chlor-alkali industry, and (3) the recent slow phase out of the use of phenyl mercury compounds in over-the-counter contraceptive products.