224
E.P. Yanin and N.N. Moskalenko
estimates of one of the present authors, the annual mercury input into the
environment from waste dry galvanic elements amounts to 100 tons. Nevertheless, we should not overlook the importance of the issues connected with
mercury lamps. No doubt mercury lamps must always be utilized, or at least
disposed of at specially prepared waste dumps.
4
Environmental Impact Assessment of Luminescent Lamp
Plants
Let us consider the environmental impact of luminescent lamp production,
taking several lighting plants of the CIS as an example.
4.1
Saransk, Mordovia, Russia
The largest lighting enterprise in Russia, the joint-stock company Lisma, is
located in Saransk, the capital of the Mordovia Republic. It includes the SELZ
electric lamp plant producing luminescent lamps and filament lamps, and also
SIS-EVS, a plant of special light sources and electrovacuum glass. It should be
noted that Saransk (with a population of more than 360000) is an important
industrial centre, the site of many large industrial plants (Dobryansky et al. 1992;
Yanin 1996b).
Luminescent lamp production at the Saransk plant was initiated at the
beginning of the 1960s. In 1965 annual production totalled 30-35 million items,
annual mercury consumption totalled about 5.5 t. To the present, Lisma has
produced a billion luminescent lamps, thus potentially providing the environment with 100-120 t of mercury.
Emission of gaseous mercury into the atmosphere totalled 200-400 kg/a
during the first 15 years of production. In 1976 coal absorbers were installed that
have decreased the emission of mercury vapour to 62 kg/a (average value during
the 1980s). Thus, according to official data, total mercury emission during the
period of the plant's operation may be estimated at approximately 6 t. In reality,
mercury emissions were much higher because of the input of metallic mercury,
mercury emission with solid particles and sewage waters. Besides, a large amount
of the industrially produced items at Lisma were defective. Nothing is known
about the fate of used coal absorbers and defective lamps; probably they were
disposed of at city dump sites. A special unit located on the territory of the plant
has recently started waste lamp utilization. Mercury emission during the plant's
operation totals 10-12 t. This mercury emission at Lisma is minor when
compared with data on mercury emission at one of the chemical plants
(Temirtau City, Kazakhstan), where emission totals 1200 t during a 30-year
period (Yanin 1995; Yanin 1996b).
E.P. Yanin and N.N. Moskalenko
estimates of one of the present authors, the annual mercury input into the
environment from waste dry galvanic elements amounts to 100 tons. Nevertheless, we should not overlook the importance of the issues connected with
mercury lamps. No doubt mercury lamps must always be utilized, or at least
disposed of at specially prepared waste dumps.
4
Environmental Impact Assessment of Luminescent Lamp
Plants
Let us consider the environmental impact of luminescent lamp production,
taking several lighting plants of the CIS as an example.
4.1
Saransk, Mordovia, Russia
The largest lighting enterprise in Russia, the joint-stock company Lisma, is
located in Saransk, the capital of the Mordovia Republic. It includes the SELZ
electric lamp plant producing luminescent lamps and filament lamps, and also
SIS-EVS, a plant of special light sources and electrovacuum glass. It should be
noted that Saransk (with a population of more than 360000) is an important
industrial centre, the site of many large industrial plants (Dobryansky et al. 1992;
Yanin 1996b).
Luminescent lamp production at the Saransk plant was initiated at the
beginning of the 1960s. In 1965 annual production totalled 30-35 million items,
annual mercury consumption totalled about 5.5 t. To the present, Lisma has
produced a billion luminescent lamps, thus potentially providing the environment with 100-120 t of mercury.
Emission of gaseous mercury into the atmosphere totalled 200-400 kg/a
during the first 15 years of production. In 1976 coal absorbers were installed that
have decreased the emission of mercury vapour to 62 kg/a (average value during
the 1980s). Thus, according to official data, total mercury emission during the
period of the plant's operation may be estimated at approximately 6 t. In reality,
mercury emissions were much higher because of the input of metallic mercury,
mercury emission with solid particles and sewage waters. Besides, a large amount
of the industrially produced items at Lisma were defective. Nothing is known
about the fate of used coal absorbers and defective lamps; probably they were
disposed of at city dump sites. A special unit located on the territory of the plant
has recently started waste lamp utilization. Mercury emission during the plant's
operation totals 10-12 t. This mercury emission at Lisma is minor when
compared with data on mercury emission at one of the chemical plants
(Temirtau City, Kazakhstan), where emission totals 1200 t during a 30-year
period (Yanin 1995; Yanin 1996b).