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As a college or university employee, you likely come across mercury-containing
items often and don’t even know it! When products containing mercury are
thrown carelessly into the trash, outdoors or down drains, that mercury has the
potential to pollute the environment and contaminate fish. Minimizing your use
of mercury-containing items is your best way to reduce your exposure to it-and
its potential risk. Some of these items you probably already know about: thermometers,
thermostats, fluorescent light bulbs, cylindrical batteries made before 1990 and
button batteries (like the ones you have in your calculator or watch). But you
may not know that some topical disinfectants, detergents and contact lens solutions
also contain mercury. Choose alternatives, such as digital thermometers and mercury-free
thermostats.
When you need to dispose of a mercury-containing item, don’t put it in
your trash or recycling container, contact your EH&S staff to determine
its proper handling. And if you break or spill an item that contains mercury,
take immediate safety precautions. First, do not touch, sweep up or vacuum the
substance. Contain the spill, and clean it according to the cleanup procedures
you’ll find as you proceed through this section of the EVC.
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