Mercury is found in many household, school and business products, from electronics to cosmetics to cleaning supplies. When mercury is discarded it leaches from the many common consumer products into the environment and can have many harmful effects on humans and wildlife. Reducing the purchase and use of mercury-containing products will help to reduce the amount of mercury pollution in the environment.

Send a message to manufactures and suppliers through your purchasing decisions. Request products that are mercury-free and manufacturers will respond to demand.

National Wildlife Federation Mercury Purchasing Guide

The National Wildlife Federation's Clean the Rain Campaign has developed the Mercury Products Guide: The Hidden Dangers of Mercury(PDF file, 947KB) to educate consumers about mercury containing products in their homes, institutions and businesses.

The report identifies mercury-free product alternatives and costs, and outlines activities (including purchasing decisions, procurement processes, and other actions) individuals and businesses can take to reduce or eliminate mercury from their homes, communities, and operations.

Health Care Without Harm Hospital Purchasing Guide

Health Care Without Harm promotes transforming the health care system so it is ecologically sustainable and no longer poses a threat to human or environmental health, while still providing quality patient care. They work to promote hospitals and health care facilities to partake in activities that are more sustainable and less harmful on the environment and human health.

Health Care Without Harm has put together a purchasing guide for the health care profession, section 2 is about mercury.

Inform, Inc. Mercury Product Alternatives

Inform, Inc. is an independent environmental research firm that looks at business practices and how they impact human and environmental health.

Inform works to identify ways for businesses to alter their practices to have less of a negative impact on the environment, while still encouraging economic growth. They have developed a guide to purchasing alternatives to mercury-contain products. Read their guide, Mercury-Containing Products and Alternatives(PDF file, 74KB) or check out their health care guide, Mercury-Containing Products and Alternatives in the Health Care Setting (PDF file, 92KB). Additionally Inform Inc. has prepared a number of useful mercury-free fact sheets.

• Mercury-free medical and surgical supplies
• Mercury-free thermostats and other building supplies
• Mercury-free vehicles

For a summary of their Mercury-free and More Project, which includes case studies of government agencies that have eliminated mercury-containing products, read their Spring 2002 newsletter Inform reports (PDF file, 99KB)

Maine Department of Environmental Protection

Recently Maine passed a law (LD 1159) to ban the sale of mercury switches, mercury relays, as well as certain measuring devices and instruments that contain mercury, effective July 1, 2006.

Prior to this ban the Maine Department of Environmental Protection commissioned the Lowell Center for Sustainable Production to conduct a comprehensive investigation of alternatives to products that contain mercury.

This report, An Investigation of Alternatives to Mercury Containing Products (PDF file, 403KB), is an excellent resource for other states that may be considering ban or phase out legislation for products that contain mercury.

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