Getting Mercury Out of Schools & Communities

From 2001-2007, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) funded NEWMOA to assist in identifying and removing elemental mercury and products containing mercury from schools and from homes. NEWMOA worked with the South Central Recycling Association of Massachusetts and the Western Massachusetts Coalition for Occupational Safety and Health to complete this task. Results from seven years of cleaning mercury out of Massachusetts schools are summarized below:

• NEWMOA removed approximately 1,347 pounds of mercury from 178 Massachusetts schools (93 high schools, 52 middle or K-8 schools, 24 elementary schools, and 9 state colleges). This includes 7,178 laboratory thermometers, 1,416 fever thermometers, 248 sphygmomanometers, 137 barometers, and 971 pounds of elemental mercury.

• The average amount of mercury removed from high schools, middle/K-8 schools, and elementary schools was approximately 5 pounds, but the amount ranged from less than 1 pound to 54 pounds. The state colleges typically had more mercury and mercury-containing items; the average amount of mercury removed from colleges was approximately 21 pounds, with the amount ranging from 2 pounds to 96 pounds.

• NEWMOA educated hundreds of teachers, schools administrators, nurses and students about the health and environmental hazards of mercury and the importance of preventing future use of mercury in schools.

• During the first year of funding, NEWMOA conducted 3 community fever thermometer exchanges and collected a total of 12 pounds of elemental mercury from 910 fever thermometers, 15 thermostats, and other miscellaneous items.

In addition, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC) funded NEWMOA to develop and deliver a series of half-day workshops to school and education officials in New York State on eliminating mercury hazards from school.

In order to accomplish this work in MA and NY, NEWMOA developed the following materials:

• "Getting Mercury Out of Schools: Guidance for Private and Parochial Schools in Massachusetts" This outreach brochure was developed to provide private schools with information on how to begin a mercury school cleanout. It was distributed by MassDEP to private and parochial schools in Massachusetts beginning in March 2007.

• "Mercury Use in School Classrooms: Summary and Assessment of Non-Mercury Alternatives" examines the feasibility of the available non-mercury alternatives for mercury and mercury-added products that are commonly used in K-12 classrooms.

• "Getting Mercury Out of Schools". This PowerPoint presentation was used for educating school, education and other officials in New York State about eliminating mercury hazards. It includes slides of mercury equipment commonly found in schools.

• "Vendors and Prices for Non-Mercury Equipment" This guide lists alternative equipment that is available to replace the mercury equipment commonly found in schools. It provides prices and vendor information.

• "Getting Mercury Out of Schools: Why it's a problem. Where it is. What to do." This is a series of individual fact sheets for specific school staff members (e.g., facilities manager, science chairperson, medical personnel) on the items that may contain mercury typically found in those areas. The accompanying folder contains pertinent information for the school administrator.

• "Identification of Mercury Devices in Schools" This table assists school staff and/or state and local technical assistance providers in identifying mercury materials commonly found in schools. Specific tables are available for science rooms, medical offices, and school facilities. Non-mercury alternatives are also identified.

• "Case Study on Mercury Elimination from Bay Path Vocational Technical High School, Charlton, Massachusetts" Bay Path identified and eliminated elemental mercury and products containing mercury from their facilities, and their school committee passed a "mercury-free" resolution.

• "Eight Good Ideas for Reducing Mercury Exposure and Pollution in your Community" was developed to assist municipal officials.

• "Nearly Everything You Need to Know About Mercury Fever Thermometer Exchanges" This document provides many ideas for conducting and publicizing an exchange, including a sample public service announcement, press release and poster. This document is meant to complement Health Care Without Harm's "How to Plan and Hold a Mercury Fever Thermometer Exchange."

To view fact sheets developed by New York State on removing mercury from schools, see http://www.health.state.ny.us/nysdoh/environ/hsees/mercury/index.htm#brochures.

For more information contact Rachel Smith at rsmith@newmoa.org.