|
|
MERCURY: A
BRIEF FOR THE BINATIONAL STRATEGY
IMPLEMENTATION WORKGROUP
Mercury Fever Thermometers
Mercury fever thermometers are a significant source of mercury to the
environment, and if a broken mercury thermometer isn't cleaned up
properly, the mercury can get into the air and pose a health risk in the
user's home. There are several good, environmentally-friendly alternatives
to mercury thermometers. Find the answers to frequently
asked questions about mercury fever thermometers, and learn why
retailers should consider discontinuing the sale of mercury thermometers,
and why many state and local agencies are encouraging the use of
non-mercury alternatives and the proper disposal of mercury thermometers.
One major drugstore chain, Rite-Aid, has committed to stop selling mercury
thermometers at it’s U.S. pharmacies, earning Health
Care Without Harm’s "Mercury in Flight Award."
State and Local Government Actions
Duluth and San Francisco have banned the sale of mercury fever
thermometers. Press releases about these bans can be found on the Health
Care Without Harm website.
In addition, Indiana
Department of Environmental Management encourages use of non-mercury
thermometers. The City of Mountain View, CA and the Palo Alto Regional
Water Quality Control Plant have done a Money for Mercury program, which
offered Mountain View Residents a $5 coupon towards the purchase of
non-mercury thermometer in exchange for a mercury thermometer. The
Department of Natural Resources in Broward County, Florida recently
offered a thermometer exchange, in which non mercury thermometers were
traded for mercury thermometers.
Alternatives
There are good alternatives to mercury thermometers. The
American
Medical Association web page advises that either mercury or digital
thermometers "will give you an accurate reading."
Nursing
'97 notes that the accuracy of mercury fever thermometers can be
diminished by mercury evaporation through porous glass. Additional
information about fever thermometer options is available from
Mississippi
State University Extension Service.
Spills
EPA’s website has information for kids on What
to do if Mercury Spills. Adults can get more detailed information on
Mercury
- Emergency Spill & Release Facts. Also, Indiana Department of
Environmental Management has Guidance
for Household Mercury Spills (PDF format), and New Jersey Department
of Health and Senior Services has Guidelines
for the Safe Clean-up of Mercury in the Home (PDF format).
Mercury Laboratory Thermometers
Mercury thermometers are used in laboratories as well as in medical
care. Many laboratories are phasing out the use of mercury thermometers
because of environmental concerns, the cost of mercury spills, and the
availability of good, non-mercury alternatives. The University of Vermont
has sponsored a Mercury
Thermometer Swap and
Harvard
University's website encourages replacement of mercury thermometers,
because mercury spills resulting from thermometer breakage "are one
of the most common accidents in research labs" and because spill
cleanups cost an average of $110 each, not counting staff time and the
cost of contaminated equipment.
|
NOTE: Some links in this site are pointers to other hosts
and locations on the Internet. This information is provided
as a service; however the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency does not endorse, approve or otherwise support these
sites. You will need
Adobe Acrobat Reader, available as a free download, to
view some of the files in this site. See
EPA's PDF page to learn more about PDF, and for a link
to the free Acrobat Reader. |
|
