Mercury
Mercury Issues
Thermometer Exchange -- free exchange opportunity ends 11/1/2003.
Before Nov 1 your group exchange coordinator (probably Safety Committee member or liaison) must complete the exchange request for to replace the thermometers that you wish to replace, or check the box indicating NO exchange. You are not required to exchange but you are encouraged to exchange all non-essential Hg thermometers. It is definitely in the University's best interest for you to do so.
Thermometer Replacement Information
Hg Thermometer FAQ from Miller & Weber, Inc. (good info and some high end replacement options -- note that these are not what is being exchanged in the Fall of 2003.)
Waste and spill procedures:
- Purdue Chem Waste Guidelines
http://www.jjkeller.com/news/newsinfo/W_news1144.htm?action_code=84059 excellent article from JJ Keller entitled
"EPA advises public on safe mercury cleanup".
Misc info
http://www.IN.gov/idem/busleg/2001/table.pdf See HEA 1901.
http://www.in.gov/idem/busleg/2001/2001summary.pdf Start on Page 19.
This new Indiana regulation will make it more expensive and fraught with liability for vendors to sell Hg, its compounds, and Hg containing devices. So we suspect they will pretty much stop.
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/pel88/7439-97.html
NIOSH source, gives some journal refs.
National Research Council committee compiles LCSSs (Lab Chemical Safety Summaries), and they give far far more info than an MSDS gives.
The Minimata incident is of course extreme, bur it was caused by elemental Hg. (Although methylmercury is what bioaccumulates.) The presentation focuses on reproductive toxins, and at the beginning there are some photos and statistics about the mercury at Minimata.
http://www.state.nj.us/health/eoh/rtkweb/1183.pdf
The New Jersey Haz Subs fact sheets provide very user-friendly information, and a lot of it.