Search Results for “mercury”
Click here for the updated 2023 Mercury in Fish booklet. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) began a cooperative effort in 1995 to assemble a nationwide database of total mercury concentrations in fish tissue. The first objective of this project was to assemble and review data on the mercury contamination in fish tissue. This step included … Read more
About DEQ’s Mercury Program: DEQ’s mercury program provides a service to citizens of Oklahoma to collect, store, and recycle household mercury and mercury containing items. Mercury-containing devices in households can include thermometers, thermostats, barometers, switches, irons, pressure-sensing devices, and blood pressure measuring devices. Who to Contact: For more information on DEQ’s Mercury Program contact – … Read more
For Immediate Release: February 15, 2017 Contact: Erin Hatfield, (405) 702-7119 A mercury spill can poison people and devastate property. Broken Arrow area residents will have a chance to safely dispose of any mercury or mercury-containing devices for free. The Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) will accept mercury from the public on Saturday, February … Read more
For Immediate Release: August 22, 2016 Contact: Erin Hatfield, (405) 702-7119 A mercury spill can poison people and devastate property. Sapulpa area residents will have a chance to safely get rid of any mercury or mercury containing devices for free. The Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) will accept mercury from the public on August … Read more
For Immediate Release: June 21, 2023 Contact: Erin Hatfield, (405) 437-8468 or erin.hatfield@deq.ok.gov The Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has updated its list of lakes with consumption advisories for mercury. One Oklahoma lake has been added to the list since recommendations were last made in 2022. The lake with a new advisory is: Ft. … Read more
For Immediate Release: September 27, 2022 Contact: Erin Hatfield, (405) 437-8468 or erin.hatfield@deq.ok.gov The Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has updated its list of lakes with consumption advisories for mercury. Three Oklahoma lakes have been added to the list since recommendations were last made in 2021. The lakes with new advisories are: John Wells … Read more
For Immediate Release: August 18, 2020 Contact: Erin Hatfield, (405) 437-8468 or erin.hatfield@deq.ok.gov The Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has updated its list of lakes with consumption advisories for mercury. Seven Oklahoma lakes have been added to the list, and five lakes have had advisories removed, since recommendations were last made in early 2020. The … Read more
For Immediate Release: February 27, 2020 Contact: Erin Hatfield, (405) 702-7119 The Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has updated its list of lakes with consumption advisories for mercury. Ten Oklahoma lakes have been added since the last advisory was issued in 2017. Those lakes are: Bixhoma Frederick Holdenville Hominy Talawanda #1 Okemah Dripping Springs … Read more
Mercury is an inorganic element that is released into the atmosphere through man-made (mining, manufacturing processes, coal-fired utilities, or industries) or natural processes (volcanoes or weathering of rocks). It falls out of the air by sticking to dust particles or gets washed out by rain or snow and then runs off into streams and lakes. … Read more
SELS uses EPA or FDA derived methods to analyze fish for contaminants. Biopsy samples from individual fish are used when analyzing for mercury. These samples require no special preparation and are introduced directly into the instrument for analysis. For other contaminants, fillets from multiple fish of the same species are combined to create a single … Read more
The fish in this Oklahoma lake have been tested and have lower levels of mercury. Fish from this lake can be eaten often without excessive exposure to mercury
Currently, DEQ does not analyze rivers and tributaries. Please follow our general advice for untested bodies of water for consumption guidance. Advice for the General Population: Since women beyond child-bearing age and men older than 15 years of age are at less risk for the effects of mercury, these groups may continue to eat a … Read more
Click here for the updated 2023 Mercury in Fish booklet. Since mercury accumulates differently in each body of water, it is impossible to visually determine whether fish in a lake, or stream are safe to eat without testing them. It is important to read DEQ’s fish consumption guidelines before going to fish. Rivers & Untested … Read more
DEQ (formerly a part of OSDH) has been sampling, analyzing, and evaluating the safety of eating fish from Oklahoma’s lakes since 1978. As environmental practices have changed over time, contaminants of concern have also changed from cancer causing chlorinated pesticides like chlordane and DDT to metals like lead and mercury that affect the central nervous … Read more
Since mercury accumulates in the muscle tissue of fish, there are no cooking or cleaning techniques that can reduce the amount of mercury in the fish you eat. However, there are techniques that can reduce other pollutants and make fish healthier for your diet. SERVING SIZE An adult serving size for one meal is … Read more
Click here for the updated 2023 Mercury in Fish booklet. Fishing is a great pastime and tradition in Oklahoma. Fish provide many benefits that are essential for a healthy diet; however, some fish pose a higher risk of mercury contamination. The DEQ encourages Oklahomans to go fishing and enjoy eating the fish they catch. Just … Read more
What must be reported in an Oklahoma Emissions Inventory? 1. Pollutants Regulated by Statute, Rule, or Regulation Emissions of 202 Oklahoma Regulated Air Pollutants (RAPs) must be reported in an Oklahoma emissions inventory. Included in the list below are: 188 federally regulated Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs) consisting of compounds and compound groups. 21 toxic … Read more
About this Superfund Site Read Supporting Documents
TEST RESULT INTERPRETATION Need help interpreting results? Click here to view our Test Result Interpretation Page. CUSTOMER FEEDBACK Please help us to know how we’re doing and how we can improve! Submit your anonymous feedback here: Customer Feedback Form MYTHS The Little Black Box A common misconception for most laboratories is a laboratory puts one sample … Read more
STATE ENVIRONMENTAL LABORATORY MISSION STATEMENT The mission of the State Environmental Laboratory Services Division is to effectively meet the roles and responsibilities required of the Oklahoma Principal State Laboratory. Generate analytical data of known and documented quality to protect public and environmental health in the State of Oklahoma. Serve as a technical resource for ODEQ programs … Read more
Drinking Water Rules Useful Information for Collecting Drinking Water Samples Useful Information for Certified Laboratories Reporting Samples and Results Reports and Other Helpful Information
Instructions, References and Help for Completing an Oklahoma Air Emissions Inventory If you need further help or have a question that cannot be answered by the information available here, then please contact the Emissions Inventory Section. SLEIS (State and Local Emission Inventory System) training webinar recordings and presentations are available on our workshop page. … Read more
The Air Toxics Program relies on delegated portions of the EPA program for permitting, compliance and enforcement, while emphasizing ambient monitoring to evaluate the air toxic concerns unique to Oklahoma. Rules for the Air Toxics Program can be found in Subchapter 42 and the list of pollutants and standards for the program can be found … Read more
DEQ facilitates the recycling of used tires, computer equipment, and mercury. DEQ also maintains databases of recyclers in Oklahoma and market prices for recyclables.
