Earth Day, 2010 is when Cornell introduced the Mercury Exchange Program. This was meant to be a pilot and when they were gone, it was done. This was so successful, the program still exists. According to the program manager we have exchanged
over 1,000 thermometers since 2010! This is continually promoted through lab inspections and mercury spill cleanups – I personally had 3 last month that were found during inspections where the lab agreed to change out the Hg thermometers for free. They are
still out there, but not as many.
This reduction in Hg thermometers is also seen in our spill response/cleanup efforts. I do not have the numbers for those, but I do receive the spill pages and it has decreased immensely.
Here is the link to that program:
http://sp.ehs.cornell.edu/lab-research-safety/chemical-safety/chemical-waste/mercury-exchange-program/Pages/default.aspx
Thanks, Brenda
Brenda Coolbaugh, CHO, CHMM
Associate Chemical Hygiene Officer
Cornell University
Environmental Health and Safety
395 Pine Tree Rd, Suite 210
Ithaca, NY 14850
(607) 592-7069
From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:dchas-l**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU]
On Behalf Of Lawrence M Gibbs
Sent: Monday, November 25, 2013 5:34 PM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Marketing the Conversion to Non-Hg Thermometers
Here is link to Stanford’s program.
http://www.stanford.edu/dept/EHS/prod/enviro/Thermometer_replacement.html
Should have a lot of info and FAQs.
Larry
Lawrence M. Gibbs, CIH
Associate Vice Provost for EH&S
Stanford University
480 Oak Road
Stanford, CA 94305-8007
650-723-7403
From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:dchas-l**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU]
On Behalf Of Dan Blunk
Sent: Monday, November 25, 2013 11:46 AM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU
Subject: [DCHAS-L] Marketing the Conversion to Non-Hg Thermometers
Colleagues,
I’m looking for comparison data / recommendations I might use to assuage academic researcher anxiety with respect to swapping their mercury thermometers for spirit thermometers.
Reluctance to give up Hg thermometers is often rationalized by claiming spirit thermometers aren’t as accurate or aren’t appropriate for as many applications as a mercury-filled thermometer.
I would appreciate suggestions on where I might find performance-based support for spirit-filled thermometers.
I have information regarding comparisons of potential exposure health risk, spill clean-up expense and environmental contamination.
Thanks for your help in finding performance-based support for using spirit filled thermometers rather than mercury filled thermometers,
Dan
---------------------------------
Dan Blunk PhD, REA 831.459.3541
Environmental Programs Manager
Environmental Health & Safety Office
University of California Santa Cruz
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