Proposed Ban on Mercury Thermometer Sales

In September of 2002, the United States Senate unanimously passed the Mercury Reduction and Disposal Act. This bill, if passed by the House and signed by the President into law, would prohibit the sale of mercury thermometers and provide grant money to make six million non-mercury thermometers available for exchange. The bill also contains language that would ensure proper disposal of the mercury. Senator Susan Collins, author of the bill stated, “This mercury will not reenter the environment, and it will not be sent to India, one of the largest manufacturers of mercury thermometers.”

Like other products containing mercury—thermostats, blood pressure cuffs, barometers—the fever thermometer has a non-toxic alternative. One year ago, Eco-Cycle, in cooperation with the Boulder Community Hospital, Longmont United Hospital, Boulder County Household Hazardous Waste Program, Boulder County Health Department, and the U of C Federal Credit Union, created a mercury thermometer exchange program. Participants brought in their mercury thermometers and were given a digital unit in exchange. Boulder County’s Household Hazardous Waste Program (303-441-4800) continues to accept mercury thermometers for recycling.

So what’s the big deal about mercury, anyway? Mercury—especially methyl mercury, the kind found in fish that swim in polluted waters—is a deadly toxin that increases in concentration as you move up the food chain. Freshwater species such as trout and walleye, as well as tuna and other oceanic species, can contain high levels of mercury. Because of mercury contamination, 40 US states have fish consumption advisories for a variety of food fish species caught in state lakes and streams. Consuming large amounts of mercury-tainted fish can cause serious reproductive and neurological disorders, even death. In July, the Food and Drug Administration was advised to issue strong warnings because current mercury contamination levels in canned and fresh tuna were at levels dangerous to children and developing fetuses.

Mercury is one of a whole host of substances that have non-toxic alternatives. For the sake of our children and our planet, we hope S.351 will prompt further legislative efforts to create more environmentally healthy products.

Call out: Many freshwater fish contain high levels of mercury. To address mercury contamination, Senate bill S.351 would ban mercury thermometer sales nationwide.