Three Simple Ways To Prevent Mercury Pollution
1. Conserve Energy
Most mercury pollution comes from burning coal in power plants. Conserving energy will reduce mercury pollution along with greenhouse gases and other pollutants.
- Install a programmable thermostat
- Seal windows, doors, holes around pipes coming through walls and floor
- Insulate attic, crawl spaces and walls
- Wrap your hot water heater with an insulating blanket
- Seal ductwork
- Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs
- Recycle
2. Don’t Buy Mercury-Containing Products Unless Absolutely Necessary
| Instead of… | Use… |
|---|---|
| Mercury (silver bulb) thermometer | Digital, red bulb or other non-mercury thermometer |
| Thermostats with mercury | Programmable digital thermostats |
| Normal fluorescent bulbs | Low-mercury bulbs (green end caps) – which should still be recycled |
| “Silver” dental amalgam | Tooth colored resin |
| Mercuric oxide button batteries | Zinc-air or other mercury-free button batteries |
Health Care Field
| Instead of… | Use… |
|---|---|
| Mercury formalin | Zinc formalin |
| Fixative B5 | Poly vinyl alcohol or other types |
| Thimerosal products | Thimerosal-free products |
| Mercury esophageal dilators | Silicon-filled or tungsten-filled dilators |
| Mercury blood pressure units | Aneroid blood pressure units |
3. If Nothing Else, Install A Programmable Thermostat!
Most non-digital thermostats contain mercury. They contain much more mercury than thermometers and other household mercury containing products. Programmable thermostats are easy to install and will pay for themselves in energy cost savings. Make sure to recycle your old thermostat.
If contact with mercury occurs, call your State, or National Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222!
