Mercury Awareness for School Teachers


WHAT IS MERCURY?

Mercury is a silvery liquid metal at room temperature. Mercury conducts electricity, expands uniformly with temperature and easily forms alloys with other metals. For these reasons, it is used in many products found in homes and schools. Mercury is also an element that occurs naturally in the earth's surface. It does not degrade and is not destroyed by combustion. Instead, mercury changes into a vapor that can travel long distances when volatilized. Mercury cycles between soils, the atmosphere and surface waters. Its toxicity can endanger living organisms and produce adverse health effects in humans.

WHY IS MERCURY A CONCERN?

There have been many incidents involving mercury spilled in schools, school buses or school property that cause alarm and require cleanup. Sometimes mercury comes from inside the school, and sometimes mercury is brought into the school from the community. Mercury that is spilled or spread through a school creates an immediate health issue, and may require expensive cleanup and monitoring.

Spilled mercury can evaporate at room temperature and easily be inhaled by the room occupants. Spilled mercury can spread long distances and settle in cracks and porous materials like cloth, carpet or wood, slowly emitting vapors over a long period of time. Mercury vapor is colorless, odorless and tasteless. Short-term exposure to a high concentration of mercury or mercury vapors can lead to nausea, shortness of breath, bronchitis, migraine headaches, and fatigue. Long-term exposure to mercury can result in damage to the nervous system, kidneys and liver. Symptoms include tremors, numbness in the fingers and toes, loss of muscle control, memory loss and kidney disease. Children, fetuses, and women of childbearing age are the most at risk for mercury poisoning. Mercury should be handled carefully, especially around children.

Mercury is also a concern in the environment. Improper disposal of mercury-containing products is one way that mercury is released into the air,land and water. Mercury easily enters its vapor form, and can travel long distances. Mercury that reaches lakes, rivers and streams can be converted into methylmercury by bacteria in the water. Methylmercury builds up in wildlife tissue, especially in fish. As larger fish eat smaller fish, the mercury concentrates travels up the food chain. Methylmercury can move up the food chain and create a risk for people who eat fish.

It does not take a lot of mercury to have negative environmental consequences. Researchers estimate that if one gram of mercury-one-seventieth of a teaspoon enters a 20-acre lake every year from the atmosphere, that minute amount is enough to raise the mercury levels in the fish. Methylmercury in large fish can be thousands of times greater than levels in the surrounding water.

Mercury Awareness for School Teachers

WHAT CAN SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS DO TO REDUCE THE PRESENCE OF MERCURY IN SCHOOLS?

Help educate students, other teachers and administrators about the health hazards and environmental fate of mercury; promote proper management and recycling of mercury and mercury-containing products; eliminate the use of mercury wherever possible at schools; prevent mercury spills and know what to do if a spill occurs; promote the use of alternative products that do not contain mercury; and promote energy efficiency.

LEARN MORE ABOUT MERCURY

Teachers can educate students about mercury by including it as part of their lesson plans. One of the best resources is the Mercury in Schools Pollution Prevention project, located at http://www.mercuryinschools.uwex.edu

REDUCE THE USE OF MERCURY AND MERCURY-CONTAINING PRODUCTS

To reduce the presence of mercury at school, you have to know where to find it. Interestingly, mercury can be found in a lot of places, some obvious and some you would not expect. You would expect to find mercury in science classrooms and the laboratory, but you can also find it throughout the school, in the cafeteria and in the nurse's office. It is worthwhile for schools to replace mercury-containing equipment or choose to purchase products that contain less mercury to reduce the long-term impact on the environment.

Pollution prevention examines the causes of waste and pollution to figure out the best way to reduce it. Pollution prevention avoids generating pollution at the source rather than trying to control it afterwards. This is also called "source reduction." Always reduce waste before recycling. Avoid products containing mercury if substitutes are available.

Classrooms, facilities and grounds
School classrooms and facilities may have mercury containing thermostats, thermometers, barometers and silent wall switches. It is simple and economical to find mercury-free alternatives for these. Approximately 75 percent of thermostats currently in use contain mercury. Electronic devices are often excellent alternatives, though many digital devices may have mercury-containing batteries, so it is best to use devices that allow you to replace the batteries with batteries free of mercury.

The lamps in the gymnasium and parking lot are generally referred to as high intensity discharge (HID) lamps, and they contain mercury. Even fluorescent and neon lamps have some mercury. However, greater energy efficiency of fluorescent lamps reduces the amount of mercury discharged by power plants generating electricity. There are also low-mercury alternatives that contain less mercury than older lamps.

Other items that contain mercury include button cell batteries and old microwave ovens that could be in the school's cafeteria. Newer microwaves do not contain mercury. Batteries now contain much less mercury, but the mercury content is still worth considering. Button batteries may contain up to 25 milligrams of mercury per battery. Some lithium button batteries may be free of mercury. It is always best to send old lamps and batteries to a recycling facility.

The janitorial and grounds staff also need to be aware of the materials they are using. Old latex paint produced before 1992 may contain mercury to act as a fungicide. Pesticides produced before 1994 may also contain mercury. If old mercury containing paints or pesticides are still at the school, dispose of them properly as hazardous waste. Newer paints and pesticides do not contain mercury.

Laboratories
Unlike other class- rooms, laboratories may have a lot of thermometers, air pressure gauges, mercury compounds and elemental mercury for use by the students. Mercury may have been used historically in a school's laboratory, and the laboratory may still have containers of mercury or mercury compounds in storage.

There are several mercury-free thermometers available, including red alcohol and digital thermometers. Generally, alcohol or electronic thermometers are sufficiently accurate and readily available. If mercury is used in experiments, often it is possible to use other chemicals to illustrate the same chemistry principles, or do microscale experiments to reduce the amount of materials necessary and reduce the need to have large quantities of mercury at the school. If mercury is used as part of the curriculum, make sure to have a mercury spill kit available, and that staff are trained in its use.

Nurse's Office
The nurse's office may have the most elemental mercury in the school, including thermometers and blood pressure measuring devices. Blood pressure gauges or sphygmomanometers may contain several pounds of mercury. Aneroid blood pressure devices and digital thermometers are available, and are as accurate as mercury-containing ones. There are also nasal sprays and contact lens solutions that contain thimerosal, phenylmercuric acetate or phenylmercuric nitrate. These compounds all have mercury in them, and have mercury free alternatives.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Electricity generation is currently the largest source of mercury emissions in the United States. Practicing energy conservation by using energy efficient products and practices reduces the amount of mercury released by power plants and reduces the amounts of other pollutants released as well. Energy efficiency also reduces carbon dioxide, sulphur oxide and nitrogen oxide releases, and makes good economic sense.

PROPER MANAGEMENT AND RETIREMENT OF MERCURY-CONTAINING DEVICES

Many mercury-containing products can be recycled. Mercury metal, thermostats, batteries, thermometers and fluorescent lights are some products that can and should be safely recycled.

IN CASE OF A SPILL

By being aware of, and by properly maintaining and replacing mercury products with mercury-free alternatives, the risk of a mercury spill is greatly reduced. If a spill does occur, it is important to have a plan to address it. The safest and best way to clean up a mercury spill is by hiring a licensed professional contractor. When mercury spills or an item containing mercury breaks, carefully evacuate the area around the spill and move students to a different room. Mercury and its vapors are very difficult to remove from clothes, carpet, floors, walls, and furniture. Keep everyone away from the area to prevent them from inhaling the mercury, since it can evaporate quickly. Never wear shoes or clothing that are contaminated with mercury, since it is absorbed in cloth and easily spread from one place to another. If possible, open windows to ventilate the spill area to the outdoors. Close the doors and place signs prohibiting entry on the entrances to the impacted rooms. Contact the school maintenance personnel to turn off heating, air-conditioning systems and fans. This will help avoid circulating contaminated air to other rooms. NEVER clean up a spill with a vacuum cleaner. This contaminates the vacuum and circulates mercury into the air. Do not use brooms or paintbrushes to clean up, since mercury will disperse into smaller beads and be harder to collect.

*information taken from Ohio EPA, Office of Pollution Prevention http://www.epa.state.oh.us/opp/schoolt1.pd

Activity 2 - Case Study of Mercury Contamination in a School

Purpose
To create an awareness within students that mercury exposure in schools is occurring and can cause health risks.

Objective
Students will demonstrate their understanding of mercury issues in schools by discussing a news story.

Materials

• Article from the Detroit Free Press, "Teacher placed on paid leave after toxic science experiment"
  *Note that state-specific case studies are available by clicking on your state on the national map on the Mercury in Schools web site at www.mercuryinschools.uwex.edu
  
• Press release from the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), "ATSDR and EPA Warn The Public About Continuing Patterns Of Elemental Mercury Exposure"

Procedure
Assign the above article and press release to be read prior to class. Assign different students to lead the discussion of any or all of the following questions (and/or questions that you develop for this activity). This involves preparing a brief introduction for the topic and facilitating discussion of the question among the other students.

Discussion Questions

• Why should we be concerned about mercury?
• What are some of the symptoms of exposure to mercury?
• Why are young children and fetuses more vulnerable to mercury exposure than adults?
• What are some of the different ways that we can be exposed to mercury?
• How does mercury move around in the environment?
• What would you advise your parents to do if they discovered a broken mercury thermometer in the house?
• What would you do if you came across a jar of mercury in someone's garbage or in an abandoned lot?
• What dangers are associated with the use of mercury as folk medicine or for religious practices?
• What are some of the special properties of mercury that make it different from other materials?
• Do you think there is mercury in this school? Where?
• Do you think there is mercury in your home? Where?
• Why is it so hard to clean up mercury after it has spilled?

Article taken from Detroit Free Press:
"Teacher placed on paid leave after toxic science experiment"
December 4, 2001 1:56 P.M.

ATSDR and EPA Warn the Public about Continuing Patterns of Elemental Mercury Exposure

Elemental (or metallic) mercury is a hazardous chemical that can cause serious health problems. Children (especially very young children) and fetuses are most vulnerable. The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), part of the U.S. Public Health Service, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are jointly issuing an alert to the general public. There is a continuing pattern of elemental mercury exposure in children and teenagers and in persons using certain folk medicines or participating in certain ethnic or religious practices.

ATSDR and EPA strongly advise against the use of uncontained elemental liquid mercury (that is, mercury not properly enclosed in glass as it is in thermometers) in homes, automobiles, day care centers, schools, offices, and other public buildings.

It is important for the general public to understand that either short-term or long-term exposures to elemental mercury can lead to serious health problems. Human exposure to elemental mercury occurs primarily from breathing contaminated air. Other forms of mercury can be absorbed by drinking contaminated water, eating food (usually fish containing mercury), and from skin contact. At high levels, elemental mercury can effect the nervous system and may harm the developing fetus. Other forms of mercury can damage other organs. Even at low levels, elemental mercury can cause health problems. Elemental mercury exposure can cause harm before symptoms become evident. Once released into the environment, mercury is very hard to clean up. If it is left unattended where exposures can occur, it can have dangerous effects on human health.

Incidents involving Schoolchildren

• In recent years, increasing numbers of elemental mercury spills and contamination involving schoolchildren have been reported.

• In August 1994, more than 500 students in Belle Glade, Florida, were contaminated with elemental mercury after three children found 4 jars (totaling 55 pounds) of mercury in an abandoned van. The local hazardous waste materials team decontaminated the children (removed contaminated clothing and washed the elemental mercury from their skin). More than 20 families had to be evacuated while their homes were decontaminated.

• In November 1994, college students at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida, removed elemental mercury from one of the school's laboratories. Students living in the dormitory were evacuated and housed in a local hotel while the dormitory was decontaminated.

• In June 1996, elemental mercury was taken from a middle school in St. Joseph, Missouri, and used in and outside of school by a group of teenagers. Approximately 200 children were tested for mercury exposure; one child was hospitalized and another five underwent outpatient treatment to remove the mercury from their systems; 20 other children had mildly elevated mercury levels. Two homes and a car required extensive decontamination.

• In October 1996, a high school in Oskaloosa. Kansas and a convalescent home in Johnson County, Kansas, were contaminated with elemental mercury; 52 students and an unknown number of residents of the home were tested. On the basis of ATSDR recommendations, the school was closed for a week until indoor air levels were safe. A month later, sampling at the school identified an increase in air mercury concentrations. ATSDR re-evaluated the school and did additional cleanup.

• In November 1996, ATSDR again assisted state health officials and EPA in evaluating contamination at a high school and a home in Dallas, Pennsylvania, near Wilkes-Barre. Four areas in the school had levels of elemental mercury contamination that required cleanup.

• In March 1997, a middle school student on his way to school found elemental mercury on the street in front of his home in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. The student took the mercury to school and shared it with three to four classmates. Also, in March 1997 a broken mercury thermometer was discovered after school on the floor of a bathroom stall in the boys' bathroom. One thermometer was confirmed missing from the science department's inventory. The school was found to be clear of contamination with the exception of one science laboratory and the carpet in a classroom. Two homes required decontamination.

Schoolteachers, particularly science teachers, and administrators need to be aware of students' interest in mercury, especially elemental mercury, and take steps to ensure that children are aware of its dangers and that any mercury kept in school is safely and securely contained.

Incidents involving religious practices
Persons who use elemental mercury in ethnic folk medicine and for religious practices are at risk. Elemental mercury is sold under the name "azogue" in stores (sometimes called botanicas), which specialize in religious items used in Esperitismo (a spiritual belief system native to Puerto Rico), Santeria (a Cuban-based religion that venerates both African deities and Catholic saints), and voodoo.

The use of azogue in religious practices is recommended in some Hispanic communities by family members, spiritualists, card readers, and santeros. Typically, azogue is carried on one's person in a sealed pouch prepared by a spiritual leader or sprinkled in the home or automobile. Some botanica owners suggest mixing it in bath water or perfume and placing it in devotional candles.

General facts
The following are general facts about elemental mercury and its risks, as well as information about how people can protect themselves from exposure and resulting health effects.

What is mercury and how is it used?
Mercury occurs naturally in the environment in several forms. Elemental mercury is the liquid form used in thermometers. Mercury is also used in other common consumer products such as fluorescent light bulbs, barometers, medical equipment such as blood pressure measurement instruments, and mercury switches in children's sneakers that light up. This alert concentrates on elemental mercury, but hazards are also associated with other types. Of these, the most common is methylmercury contamination of fish.

How could I be exposed to mercury?
In the previously described school-associated cases, children were unaware of the dangers involved in exposing themselves and their families to this deadly poison. Adults are also often unaware of the hazards associated with mercury; some have even brought it home from work for children to play with. Just one-half teaspoon of mercury spilled in the home can be dangerous.

Adults using certain folk medicines or participating in certain religious or ethnic practices may also expose themselves and their families to elemental mercury's effects. Because elemental mercury vaporizes into the air at room temperatures, it presents an immediate health risk to anyone spending a significant amount of time in a room where elemental mercury is sprinkled or spilled onto the floor, or where opened containers of elemental mercury are present. Very small amounts of elemental mercury (for example, a few drops) can raise air concentrations to levels that may be harmful to health.

How does mercury affect health?
At high levels, elemental mercury can cause effects on the nervous system and the developing fetus. Other forms of mercury can damage other organs. Even at low levels, elemental mercury can cause health problems. Mercury exposure can begin to cause harm before symptoms become evident. Once symptoms do arise, health problems related to elemental mercury poisoning can include tremors, changes in vision or hearing, insomnia, weakness, difficulty with memory, headache, irritability, shyness and nervousness, and a health condition called acrodynia. Acrodynia, which results from acute and/or intermediate duration dermal exposures to elemental mercury, is characterized by itching, swelling, and flushing; pink-colored palms and soles of the feet; excessive perspiration; rashes; irritability; fretfulness; sleeplessness; joint pains and weakness. Children exposed to elemental mercury for long periods may have trouble learning in school. Exposure to mercury can result in communication and learning disabilities that may be irreversible. Pregnant women and their fetuses and women of childbearing age are especially vulnerable to the toxic effects of elemental mercury because it readily passes from the mother to the fetus. Mercury may accumulate in higher concentrations in the unborn baby than in the mother. Young children, who often play on the floor where metallic mercury may have been spilled, are particularly at risk for effects on the central nervous system. Mercury vapors are readily absorbed into the bloodstream from the lungs, and the human central nervous system, which is still developing during the first few years of life, may be damaged.

Health effects can result from short-term or long-term exposure. The body gets rid of mercury through the urine and feces. Removal of this substance from the body can take up to several months after exposure. When mercury levels in the body are extremely high, "chelation" therapy is necessary. Chelation therapy is an unpleasant treatment that involves putting a chemical into the bloodstream; the chemical combines with the mercury to aid in its removal from the body. Prevention is the key to avoiding poisoning in homes, schools, and families.

What is mercury contamination and how can I prevent it?
Mercury contamination results from exposure through the air, water, food, soil, or direct contact. Exposure to elemental mercury occurs when it is not stored in a closed container. Contamination may include the spilling of elemental mercury on clothes, furniture, carpet, floors, walls, the natural environment, and even the human body. Elemental mercury and its vapors are extremely difficult to remove from such items as clothes, furniture, carpet, floors, and walls. The vapors will also accumulate in walls and other structures in contaminated rooms. The contamination can remain for months or years, posing a risk to exposed individuals. The use of elemental mercury in a home or apartment not only poses a threat to persons currently residing in that structure, but also to those who subsequently occupy that dwelling and are unaware of the past mercury use.

Avoid using elemental mercury. Appropriate substitutes are available for nearly all uses of elemental mercury. Therefore, be sure you need to use it. If substitutes are not available, make arrangements to safely dispose of whatever elemental mercury you might have by calling your local poison control center. If you do need to use elemental mercury, make sure it is safely stored in a leakproof container. Keep it in a secure space (e.g., a locked closet) so that others cannot easily get it. Use of elemental mercury in a controlled environment helps to reduce the risk that contamination will occur.

Can I clean up mercury with a vacuum cleaner?
Never use a vacuum cleaner. Using a vacuum cleaner causes elemental mercury to vaporize in the air, creating greater health risks. It also ruins the vacuum cleaner.

Can electronic equipment collect mercury vapors?
Elemental mercury vapors can accumulate in electronic equipment, especially computers. When the computer is turned on, the mercury revaporizes. This cycle of elemental mercury collecting and vaporizing from computers has been seen in several incidents in schools.

Mercury vapors are very dangerous and are virtually undetectable. Avoid breathing mercury dust, vapor, mist, or gas. Avoid contact with eyes, skin, and clothing. If you feel you have been exposed directly to elemental mercury, wash thoroughly after handling. Remove contaminated clothing and wash before reuse. If someone has breathed in mercury, provide as much clean air as possible.

What should I do to keep my home safe?
Care must be taken in handling and disposing of all items in the home that contain elemental mercury. Elemental mercury is used in a variety of household and industrial items including thermostats, fluorescent light bulbs, barometers, glass thermometers, and some blood pressure machines.

Example
If a thermometer breaks, remove children from the area. Clean up the bead of elemental mercury by carefully rolling it onto a sheet of paper or sucking it up with an eye dropper. After picking up the mercury, put it into a jar or airtight container. Do not wash it down the drain or throw it outside. The paper or eye dropper should also be bagged and disposed of properly according to guidance provided by environmental officials or your local health department. Try to ventilate the room to the outside and close off from the rest of the home. Use fans for a minimum of one hour to speed the ventilation. If larger amounts of elemental mercury are found (for example, a jar), make sure that the mercury is in an airtight container and call your local health department for instructions in how to safety dispose of it. If a larger amount is spilled, leave the area and contact your local health department and fire authorities. Do not simply throw it away, but instead seek professional guidance from environmental officials or your local health department.

Important Telephone Numbers

? Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) Emergency Response ? Hotline (24 hours): (404) 639-0615 ? National Response Center: 1-800-424-8802 ? Superfund Information Hotline: 1-800-424-9346 ? You may also call your local health department

Activity 3 - School Mercury Audit

Now it is time to conduct a Hg school audit!!

Purpose

Schools are places where mercury and children may come together. They are also places where we can model appropriate health and environmental protection behaviors. Lastly, schools can also be catalysts for reducing mercury in homes of their students (and staff.)

Objectives

• Involve students in a meaningful, real-life opportunity to do something about an environmental problem at their school.
  
• Reduce or eliminate opportunities for students and staff to come in contact with mercury.
  
• Prevent the release of mercury into the environment from mercury or mercury-containing devices at school, by properly disposing of Hg.

Materials

• "Mercury At School: Where To Look And What To Look For", information about conducting a school mercury audit.
  
• Copies of Mercury Audit Checklist (one per team)

Procedure

• Obtain approval from your principal.
  
• Discuss the audit with your school's engineering and/or janitorial staff.
  
• Introduce the topic of mercury to the class, using any or all of the materials included in the Focus on Mercury section of this package.
  
• Hand out copies of "Mercury at School: Where To Look And What To Look For" to students and ask them to review it ahead of time.
  
• Divide your school or classroom up and assign research teams to cover specific areas. (Obtaining the building blueprint would be very helpful but is not necessary.)
  
• Now have the students develop an audit "plan," i.e. what will they look for, who will they talk to, and what will they ask? They may wish to map the locations of mercury or suspected locations.
  
• Conduct the audit using the mercury audit form or a form designed by
  the students.
  
• Have students discuss the results with the principal, science teachers, school nurse, and engineering and/or janitorial staff. Make recommendations for safely recycling mercury and replacing mercury-containing products or equipment, as appropriate.
  

Mercury at School: Where to Look and What to Look For

Science, Chemistry, Physics and Biology Classrooms

Check for: pure mercury, mercury compounds, thermometers, barometers, or other devices that may contain mercury

Why?: Mercury and mercury compounds were used in various experiments. They may or may not be used now, but they may still be in the cabinet or chemical closet. Mercury thermometers, barometers, or other mercury containing devices may be used in science, chemistry, biology and physics classes.

Alternatives: Other chemicals can be used in class experiments to illustrate science or chemistry principles. Alcohol or electronic thermometers are readily available and sufficiently accurate.

Who to Talk to: Chemistry and other science teachers

Questions to Ask:
(1) Are mercury or mercury compounds currently used in class?
(2) If they are being used, could other chemicals replace them?
(3) Do you know if these have been used in the past in science classes in this school?
(4) Are these being stored in a closet, cabinet or elsewhere?
(5) How many mercury thermometers or other mercury devices are in the classroom?
(6) Have you ever experienced a spill of mercury or a broken thermometer in your class room?
(7) Is a spill kit readily available, if a spill occurs?
(8) Are you familiar with the proper spill control procedures for mercury?

Possible Actions: Make sure any mercury, mercury compounds, or thermometers are in non-breakable containers. These should all be collected by school engineering and/or janitorial staff, held in a safe, secured area prior to recycling them.

Your school should not wait for mercury thermometers to break before replacing them with non-mercury alternatives. If a barometer is to be retained, make sure it is protected by a Plexiglas or similar enclosure. If mercury thermometers or barometers will not be replaced at this time, obtain spill kits for the science classrooms and storage rooms. Make sure that at least several staff people are trained in proper spill control procedures.

Nurse's Office

Check for: thermometers, blood pressure measuring device(sphygmomanometer), nasal spray and contact lens solution

Why?: Mercury thermometers are used to check for fever. Sphygmomanometers can contain up to several pounds of mercury.
Nasal spray and contact lens solution may contain thimerosal (an ingredient that has mercury in it), phenylmercuric acetate or phenylmercuric nitrate.

Alternatives: Alcohol or electronic thermometers are readily available.
Aneroid blood pressure devices are just as effective as the mercury versions.
Many brands of nasal spray and contact lens solution do not contain mercury, however the labels do not always indicate which ones are mercury free.

Who to Talk to: School Nurse

Questions to Ask:
(1) How many mercury thermometers are in the nurse's office?
(2) Have you ever experienced a broken thermometer?
(3) Is a spill kit readily available, if a spill occurs?
(4) Are you familiar with the proper spill control procedures for mercury?
(5) Do you use a sphygmomanometer? If yes, have you considered replacing it with an aneroid blood pressure device that does not contain mercury?
(6) Do you stock nasal spray or contact lens solution? If yes, have you contacted the manufacturer to make sure they do not contain mercury?

Possible Actions:

• Make sure mercury thermometers are in non-breakable containers.
• These should all be collected by school engineering or janitorial staff and held in a safe, secured area prior to recycling them.
• Do not wait for mercury thermometers to break before replacing them with alcohol or electronic alternatives.
• Replace sphygmomanometers with aneroid blood pressure devices.
• If mercury thermometers or sphygmomanometers will not be replaced at this time, obtain a spill kit for the nurse's office.
• Make sure that the nurse(s) are trained in proper spill control procedures.
• Use up existing stock of nasal spray or contact lens solution containing mercury and then purchase mercury-free alternatives.
  

Electrical And Heating Equipment

Check for: thermostats, "silent" light switches and recycling of fluorescent light bulbs

Why?: Thermostats are used to control the temperature in buildings. Approximately 75% of thermostats in use today contain mercury. Many "silent" light switches contain mercury. Each fluorescent tube in overhead lighting fixtures contains a minute amount of mercury. However, your school probably uses a large number of these fluorescent bulbs throughout the building, so the total amount of mercury can be significant.

Alternatives: Electronic thermostats and non-mercury switches are widely available. Fluorescent bulbs should be recycled, rather than thrown out.

Who to Talk to: School engineering or janitorial staff

Questions to Ask:
(1) How many thermostats and "silent" light switches are there in your school building?

(2) How many of these contain mercury?

(3) How are used fluorescent bulbs managed? Are they recycled or thrown out in the trash?

(4) If they are recycled, how and where are they stored before they are taken from the building for recycling? How are they protected to avoid breaking them?

Possible Actions:
Place stickers (designed by the students) on any mercury thermostats or silent switches that indicate:
(1) This device contains mercury.
(2) When this device is disposed of, the mercury should be recycled.
(3) When purchasing a replacement, a mercury-free model should be chosen.

Notify the purchasing department to try to get mercury-free thermostats or light switches when purchasing replacements. Many HVAC contractors will recycle mercury thermostats.

Your school should recycle used fluorescent bulbs by replacing them in their original box in a safe, secure storage area until they are picked up by a recycling contractor.

Fluorescent & High-Intensity Discharge (HID) Lamps

Which Lamps Contain Mercury?
o fluorescent lamps
o mercury vapor lamps
o metal halide lamps
o high-pressure sodium lamps
o neon lamps

Why Use Fluorescent and HID Lighting?
Fluorescent and HID lighting is an excellent business and environmental choice because it can use up to 50 percent less electricity than incandescent lighting. However, used fluorescent and HID lamps must be managed properly because they contain mercury.

How Do I Dispose of the Lamps?

• Store lamps in an area and in a way that will prevent them from breaking, such as in boxes the lamps came in or boxes supplied by lamp recyclers.
  
• Mark the lamp storage area with the words "Fluorescent lamps for recycling."
  
• Do not break or crush lamps because mercury may be released.
  
• If lamps are accidentally broken, store them in a sealed container. Pick up spilled powder and add it to the
  sealed container.
• Take lamps to a consolidation site* or arrange with a lamp transporter to pick them up. Contact your city, county or state environmental office or solid waste office for services available in your area. To protect yourself from future liability, save the invoices that track your used lamps and include the following information:
  
  • the date of shipment
    
  • the number of lamps
    
  • the location from where the lamps are being shipped
    
  • the destination of the shipment

*These services may not be available in your area.

Mercury Audit: Assessment Checklist for Schools

*form attained from newmoa.com at http://www.newmoa.org/Newmoa/htdocs/prevention/mercury/schools/checklist.cfm