Mercury has been targeted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as one of the top Persistent Bio-accumulative Toxic (PBT) chemicals to be reduced on a global level.

Occasionally, mercury-containing thermometers are accidentally broken in laboratories requiring costly clean-up procedures and typically several hours of loss research time while the laboratory is being decontaminated. In support of the EPA's objective to reduce the use of elemental mercury, the University has taken this pro-active approach to eliminate mercury thermometers and mercury-containing equipment in our teaching and research laboratories throughout all of our campuses.

OSEH and Purchasing spearheaded a Mercury Thermometer Elimination Program in 2001. Before the program was implemented, the University spent $20,000 annually cleaning up broken thermometer spills! This does not even include the cost associated with lost research time during the clean-up activities. Number of spill responses have also drastically reduced since program implementation, from 47 spills in 2001 to 8 spills in 2007.

The following memo from Robert Kasdin, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and Fawwaz Ulaby, Vice President for Research clarifies the University's commitment and mandates participation in this program.

In an effort to make the transition to mercury-free thermometers as seamless as possible, Purchasing Services has worked very hard negotiating favorable pricing with Fisher Scientific for mercury-free thermometer options. OSEH manages collecting and recycling all of the mercury thermometers being eliminated. OSEH has also developed the following guideline that details the roles and responsibilities of participants throughout campus. Please read the guideline for more detail.

It is each department's responsibility to replace mercury-containing thermometers, including the funding necessary to purchase the mercury-free alternatives. When you have purchased the mercury-free alternatives contact OSEH Hazardous Materials and Remediation Services at 763-4568 to schedule a pick-up of your mercury containing thermometers you are replacing.

If you have questions regarding this initiative please contact Megan Lazar at 936-5238. Thank you for your participation.

For special UM/FISHER pricing for mercury-free thermometers click here.

Read more about Mercury Reduction in the P2000 report