CHIPPEWA FALLS (Press Release) – St. Joseph's Hospital is making a final
sweep of the Chippewa Valley. Its goal is to rid the community of thermometers
containing liquid mercury – a health hazard.
Exchange your old mercury
thermometer for a new free digital thermometer.
How the Program Works:
- St. Joseph's Hospital's Green Team in conjunction with the Partners of St. Joseph's Hospital will
swap your mercury-containing thermometer with a new digital thermometer at no
cost to you.
- Collection will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 5, at House Blend
Lighting and Design Studio, 215 N. Bridge St. during Chippewa Falls Main
Street's Paint the Town Red event.
- Place your mercury-containing
thermometer in its original plastic container (if applicable) and double bag it
in resealable bags to protect it during transportation.
The Mercury Problem:
Mercury is a toxic liquid metal
which poses a threat to the health of humans and the natural environment.
Children are especially vulnerable to the hazards associated with mercury through
inhalation, ingestion and absorption. In an attempt to save community
members and the environment from toxins, St. Joseph's Hospital's Green Team and the
Partners of St. Joseph's Hospital are working together to provide digital
thermometers during a thermometer swap.
Metallic mercury primarily causes health effects when it is breathed
as a vapor where it can be absorbed through the lungs, according to the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency. The exposures can occur when elemental mercury
is spilled or products that contain mercury break and expose mercury to the
air.
Metallic
liquid mercury generally does not absorb very well when it swallowed. Breathing
its vapors is very dangerous. When metallic mercury is touched it can slowly
pass through the skin, according to Wisconsin Department of Health Services.
In
general, chemicals affect the same organ systems in all people who are exposed.
A person's reaction depends on several things, including individual health,
previous exposure to chemicals, and personal habits such as smoking or
drinking. It's also important to consider the length of exposure to the
chemical; the amount of chemical exposure; and whether the chemical was
inhaled, touched, or eaten, according to the WDHS.
For
more information on exposure to mercury, contact:
--Wisconsin
Poison Control Center, 800-222-1222.
--Division
of Public Health, 608-266-1120.
--Agency
for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry information center, 888-422-8737.
For cleanup
instructions, visit http://bit.ly/XrodQQ.
