Mercury Free WMC!

Weill Cornell to initiate its first Mercury Thermometer Exchange Program. The Weill Cornell Medical College Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) office will start a campus-wide pollution prevention initiative to minimize the use of mercury thermometers. The intent of the Mercury Thermometer Exchange Program is to collect all of the mercury thermometers and replace them with appropriate non-mercury alternatives. The non-mercury thermometers are safe, non-toxic, and environmentally friendly. Additionally, the non-mercury thermometers are calibrated and tested against thermometer standards traceable to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

How will the Mercury Thermometer Exchange Program work? The Mercury Thermometer Exchange Program is provided at no cost and will provide a 1-for-1 exchange of new non-mercury thermometers for the old mercury thermometers. EHS has contracted Barnstead International, manufacturer of the Ertco™ Ever Ready thermometers, to conduct the Mercury Thermometer Exchange Program.

The Program will include:

Barnstead International and EHS personnel conducting a walkthrough and surveying the College’s laboratories to review the types and quantities of thermometers used with lab personnel. During this survey process, Barnstead International personnel will provide instruction on the proper selection and use of a thermometer.
Barnstead International will then identify the appropriate non-mercury thermometers and place a customized order for each laboratory.
The lab’s non-mercury thermometer order will be shipped to EHS and EHS personnel will deliver the thermometers to the laboratory. At this time the old mercury thermometers will be collected by EHS for recycling.

The Mercury Thermometer Exchange Program walkthroughs are scheduled for March 28-30 and April 19, 20, 25, and 26. Additional dates may be scheduled as necessary.

What should the lab do to prepare for the Mercury Thermometer Exchange Program? The Mercury Thermometer Exchange Program is a 1-for-1 exchange program. As such, the labs should conduct an internal pre-survey to identify and locate all the mercury thermometers in their laboratory as well as applications / processes which require a thermometer. Barnstead International personnel have conducted similar exchange programs at other institutions and are knowledgeable about the typical types of thermometers utilized in a laboratory. However, the exchange program will be more successful and facilitated by the lab’s completion of the pre-survey.

How can I help coordinate the Mercury Thermometer Exchange Program for my laboratory and/or Department? Departments and laboratories can help coordinate the Mercury Thermometer Exchange Program for their areas by providing EHS with their contact information. EHS will work with the contacts to facilitate the exchange program in their areas. Please register online to be a contact for your area(s).

Are you using the right type of thermometer for your application? Thermometers are used in a wide variety of applications in laboratories. Applications include incubators, refrigerators, freezers, hot water baths, heating blocks, etc. Unfortunately thermometers (both mercury and non-mercury) can not be used universally between these applications. In order for a thermometer to be accurate, the appropriate thermometer must first be selected for the application and then the thermometer must be installed and used properly. Failure to do either of these steps can result in an inaccurate temperature reading.

What are the differences between total, partial, and complete immersion thermometers? As illustrated in the diagram below:

total-immersion thermometers are designed to indicate temperatures correctly when the bulb and the entire liquid column are exposed to the temperature being measured, except for a minimal length emergent to be visible. For example, if a total immersion thermometer is used to measure the temperature of a hot water bath, then the thermometer must be properly positioned so that the entire liquid column is below the water level (except for a minimal portion of the liquid column necessary to read the temperature) to accurately measure the temperature.
partial-immersion thermometers have an immersion line indicated on the thermometer. The immersion line indicates the point to which the bulb and liquid column must be exposed to the temperature being measured and the emergent stem is at ambient temperature. For example, if a partial immersion thermometer is used to measure the temperature of a hot water bath, then the thermometer must be properly positioned so that the immersion line is even with the water level of the bath to accurately measure the temperature. Note that a total immersion thermometer may be used accurately at partial immersion if a mathematical correction is applied.
complete-immersion thermometers require that the entire thermometer be exposed to the material being measured. For example, if a complete immersion thermometer is used to measure the temperature of hot water in a bath, then the entire thermometer would be completely immersed below the water level of the bath to accurately measure the temperature.

Mercury Thermometer Exchange Program Questions or Comments? Please contact EHS with any questions.