VA High school sweep and thermometer exchange

From May 22 to June 8, 2001, the Virginia DEQ collected elemental mercury and/or conducted mercury thermometer exchanges with 17 Virginia high schools. The 3-week “mercury sweep” resulted in the collection of approximately 360 pounds of elemental mercury and nearly 2000 thermometers.

In addition, DEQ distributed approximately 900 digital, mercury-free thermometers and distributed educational materials on the risks of mercury, where it is used, and what alternatives are available. DEQ documented this project in the attached report Pilot Mercury Collection & Thermometer Exchange at 17 Virginia High Schools. This report provides guidance to schools and other organizations on hosting similar events. Several organizations are pursuing thermometer exchange events.

The non-profit organization Wildlife Federation held a thermometer exchange in Manassas for Earth Day, April 22, 2002, based on the guidance included in this report. A Virginia industry Merck & Co in Elkton also used the report as guidance when it held a thermometer exchange with a school on May 29-31, 2002. Wyeth Pharmaceuticals conducted a thermometer exchange on May 4, 2004 based on this manual. In addition, the healthcare chain “Patient First” has committed to a series of thermometer collections at their locations around the state.

Click here to download the report (MS Word format).