When a thermometer breaks, the amount of liquid mercury it contains is roughly enough to contaminate all the fish in a 20-acre lake - and enough to cause neurological damage in people, especially children. Several states have now banned the sale of mercury thermometers and are urging consumers to use such alternatives as digital electronic thermometers.
But don't throw your old mercury thermometer or old home thermostats in the trash - it will end up in a landfill or an incinerator, where it will vaporize into the air or find its way into the food supply through fish. Instead, check epa.gov/epaoswer/hazwaste/mercury/collction.htm for mercury-recycling programs in your area. If you can't find one, contact your local hazardous waste hauler.
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