What
metals cannot be safely put down the drain?

Many heavy metals are regulated by the EPA and thus cannot go down the drain. Additonally, certain metals pose a high toxicity hazard and also may not go down the drain. These include:
Animony (Sb) |
Cobalt (Co) |
Lead (Pb) |
Rhenium (Re) |
Thallium (Tl) |
Arsenic (As) |
Gallium (Ga) |
Manganese (Mn) |
Rhodium (Rh) |
Tungsten (W) |
Barium (Ba) |
Germanium (Ge) |
Mercury (Hg) |
Ruthenium (Ru) |
Vanadium (V) |
Beryllium (Be) |
Hafnium (Hf) |
Nickel (Ni) |
Selenium (Se) |
|
Cadmium (Cd) |
Indium (In) |
Osmium (Os) |
Silver (Ag) |
|
Chromium (Cr) |
Iridium (Ir) |
Platinum (Pt) |
Tellurium (Te) |
The above metals must be collected in a waste bottle for off-campus disposal (metals in bold are RCRA). Please label any waste container containing heavy metals with the names of the ions present.
Additionally, some common metals should not go down the drain above certain concentrations. These include:
Copper (1.5mg/L), Zinc (3.1mg/L)
Earlham College · 801 National Road West · Richmond, Indiana · 47374-4095
Send corrections or comments to the Chemical Hygiene Officer
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This page last updated: January 14, 2011