Mercury
Content Outline

                I. Definitions of key terms
                        A. Mercury
                        B. Toxic
                        C. Vapor
                        D. Thermometer Exchanges

                II. Dangers associated with mercury
                        A. It is toxic to humans and causes health problems
                                1. Brain
                                2. Central nervous system
                                3. Liver and kidneys
                        B. It contaminates the food chain
                                1. Water
                                2. Wildlife

               III. High Risk Groups
                        A. Children under the age of six
                        B. Developing fetuses
                        C. Pregnant women and women planning on becoming pregnant

              IV. Sources of mercury in common household products
                        A. Glass thermometers
                        B. Older thermostats
                        C. Blue-tinted automotive headlamps
                        D. Fluorescent bulbs, high intensity discharge (HID) bulbs, metal halide, high pressure sodium and neon bulbs

              V. Mercury cautionary practices
                        A. Never break open products that contain mercury
                        B. Follow this procedure if you have a mercury spill
                                1. Ventilate the room.
                                2. Keep children and pets away from the spill.
                                3. Never vacuum up spilled mercury.
                                4. Wear gloves and use cardboard or tape to scoop up beads.
                                5. Put in an envelope or airtight container in a secure place.
                                6. Bring to the next local hazardous waste collection day or facility.
                        C. Do not pour mercury down the drain.
                        D. Never burn mercury containing products.
                        E. Do not put mercury containing products in the trash.
                        F. Always dispose of mercury containing products at a household hazardous waste collection day or facility.
                        G. Participate in a thermometer exchange program.

              VI. Fresh water fish consumption advisory for all of Connecticut's fresh water rivers and lakes
                        A. For high risk groups
                                1. Limit consumption to 1x month
                                2. Consume no fish from these lakes
                                        a. Lake Wyassup, North Stonington, CT
                                        b. Lake McDonough, Barkhamstead, CT
                                        c. Silver Lake, Berlin, CT
                                        d. Dodge Pond, East Lyme, CT
                        B. For all others
                                1. Limit consumption to 1x month from the lakes listed above

              VII. Community Resources