Help "Kick Off" Mercury Campaign

The first week of May, Health Care Without Harm will begin a targeted campaign to reduce the use of mercury products. We must reverse the increasing deposition of mercury in the environment and in our food. Because Sierra Club is a national member of Health Care Without Harm, we are all encouraged to participate. Carefully developed educational materials are available to us. Select any or all of the activities described here.

Mercury is a persistent, very toxic pollutant that is still in wide use in society. Widespread contamination of fish has resulted in 39 states issuing over 1600 warnings against consuming fish caught in certain bodies of water. A major source is air pollution from incinerators. Children have been acutely poisoned by mercury spilled in the home.

An informative brochure Healing the Home: Mercury Thermometers and Your Family's Health is available. It encourages the switch to non-mercury thermometers, describes the hazards of spilled mercury from a thermometer, and tells how to safely clean it up and dispose of the mercury.

USA Today recently ran an article entitled, Murcury Thermometers Fall Out of Favor. This article highlighted the concerns with mercury and numerous programs around the country collecting mercury thermometers and promoting the many alternatives. Some states, such as Minnesota, have banned the distribution of mercury containing thermometers by hospitals to new parents. The EPA has a website documenting the risks of mercury thermometers and their various alternatives. www.epa.gov/grtlakes/seahome/mercury/src/mercmed.htm

There is also a fact sheet for you to take to your local hospital, Making Medicine Mercury Free. This brochure will help them develop a program to eliminate the use of mercury-containing products. Please contact Doris Cellarius sierra club community health committee 360-943-6875. doris.cellarius@sierraclub.org