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Mercury in Schools

Where is it found?

Mercury can be found in many different forms and many different locations throughout a school. The following chart lists places in the school where mercury or mercury-containing items may be located and low-mercury or non-mercury alternatives. 

Guide to Locating Mercury in:

   

Printable Version (PDF 101KB)

 
Room Type Could Contain Mercury Alternative

Classroom or Lab                                                           

Biology, Physics, Chemistry, or other Science

   
  Elemental mercury No alternative, properly dispose
  Mercury compounds (mercury chloride, mercury iodine, mercury nitrate, mercury oxide, mercury sulfate) Magnesium Chloride/Sulfuric Acid or Zinc Formalin Freeze Drying Phenate method/Ammonia/Copper Sulfate, Neosporin, Mycin Copper Catalyst Silver Nitrate/Potassium/Chromium (III) Sulfate
  Mercury barometer Aneroid or digital barometer
  Mercury gas law apparatus Charles» law apparatus
  Mercury hydrometer No alternative, properly dispose
  Mercury hygrometer Spirit-filled glass bulb, digital and aneroid
  Mercury lab thermometer Alcohol and mineral spirits glass bulb thermometers, and digital thermometers
  Mercury molecular motion device No alternative, properly dispose
  Mercury sling psychrometer Mineral spirits glass bulb thermometers
  Mercury spectral tube 16 alternative gases are available
  Mercury vacuum gauge Needle or digital gauge
  Zenker» s Solution (mercury chloride) Zinc Formalin (see above for other alternatives to mercury compounds)
  Mercury-containing solvents Water-based or bio-based solvents

Home Economics

   
  Mercury cooking thermometer Spirit-filled glass bulb thermometer, and digital thermometer
  Washing machine switch (with power shut off Mechanical switch
  Freezer light Mechanical switch
  Flame sensor (on gas ovens) Electronic ignition
  Steam iron with tilt switch (found in irons with 15-minute shut-off) Iron with non-mercury switch

Art

   
  Cadmium Vermillion Red Paint Mercury-free and cadmium-free paint
  True Vermillion Paint Mercury-free paint
  Ceramic glazes Look for lead and cadmium-free glazes
  Dyes (cold water and commercial) Vegetable dyes
  Solvent-based glues Water-based glues
  Solvent-based paints Water-based paints

 

Wood stains Water-based wood stains
  Misc. Inhalation Hazards (e.g. clay in dry form, powdered paints, glazes, pigments, wheat paste and aerosol products Wet or liquid non-aerosol products

Auto, Wood, and Metal Shops; other Industrial Arts

   
  Mercury gauges Electronic or aneroid gauges
  Manometers, Carburetor synchronizers, and other pressure-measuring devices Aneroid and electronic manometers and analog gauges
  Switches found in: electrical equipment, relays, boilers, cooling and heating equipment, wall-mounted light switches manufactured before 1991 (» silent» switches) Mercury-free switches, temperature devices, and relays, and gas equipment with electronic ignitions
  Solvent-based products Water-based or bio-based solvents
Room Type Could Contain Mercury Alternative

Nurses Office

  Fever thermometers Digital, gallium-indium-tin thermometers, dot matrix thermometers
  Blood pressure devices Digital or aneroid pressure devices
  Topical disinfectants containing mercurochrome or tincture of merthiolate Alcohol or hydrogen peroxide
  Contact lens solution containing thimerosol, phenylmercuric acetate or phenylmercuric nitrate Thimerosol-free, phenylmercuric acetate-free or phenylmercuric nitrate-free contact lens solution
  Nasals sprays containing thimerosol, phenylmercuric acetate or phenylmercuric nitrate Thimerosol-free, phenylmercuric acetate-free or phenylmercuric nitrate-free nasal sprays
     
     
Room Type Could Contain Mercury Alternative

HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning) in Facilities, Labs, and Classrooms

  Mercury thermostats Air-controlled, reed switch, vapor-filled diaphragm, snap-switch and programmable electronic thermostats
  Mercury U-tubes Electronic and aneroid gauges
  Mercury switches Hard-contact switches, solid state switches, electro-optical switches, inductive sensors, capacitive sensors, photoelectric sensors, and ultrasonic sensors
  Mercury thermostat probes Electric flame sensors, electronic ignition
  Float switches Magnetic dry reed switches, optic sensors, and mechanical switches
     
     
Room Type Could Contain Mercury Alternative

Devices and Items Found in School Facilities, Indoor and Outdoors

 

Mercury toys and novelties: Maze toys; light-up shoes purchased before 1994; toys with button batteries; jewelry with mercury inside

Mercury-free toys and novelties
  Mercury thermostats Air-controlled, reed switch, vapor-filled diaphragm, snap-switch and programmable electronic thermostats
  Fluorescent lamps No alternative, properly dispose
  Mercury vapor lamps No alternative, properly dispose
  Metal halide lamps No alternative, properly dispose
  High-pressure vapor sodium lamps No alternative, properly dispose
  Mercury gauges Electronic or aneroid gauges
  Mercury light switches (» silent» switches) New light switches (post 1991) that do not contain mercury
  Mercury switches and relays Electronic switches and relays
  Mercury thermostat probes and flame sensors Hard-contact switches, inductive sensors, capacitive sensors, photoelectric sensors, and ultrasonic sensors
  Old latex paint (purchased prior to 1992) New paints; properly dispose
  Fungicides prior to 1994 Properly dispose
  Pesticides Properly dispose

Printable Version (PDF 101KB)

Mercury in Schools Resources

 

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Last Update: 09/25/2009 03:26 PM

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