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Department of Ecology Press Release - November 3, 2005
05-268
OLYMPIA - Soon, buying a mercury-filled thermometer won't be as easy as stopping in at the corner store. On Jan. 1, items containing mercury, such as fever thermometers, gauges, thermostats, and even jewelry and novelty items will be illegal to sell in Washington.
In a law passed in 2003, the Washington state Legislature took major steps toward limiting mercury's effects on human health and reducing mercury contamination in the environment. The state departments of Ecology (Ecology) and Health (DOH) were tasked with educating the public and enforcing the new law.
Since the spring, Ecology and DOH have worked with retail and trade associations in Washington to get the word out to store owners.
Mercury is a known toxic material that builds up in body tissue. Mercury exposure can lead to learning disabilities and damage to the heart and blood vessels in unborn fetuses and young children. In adults, exposure to mercury may result in problems in the cardiovascular and central nervous systems. The main source of mercury exposure is through consumption of fish.
Products such as thermometers are not dangerous intact. The problem arises with breakage and the resulting contamination.
"This ban is important, not because the products are harmful in themselves, but because mercury in the environment, either accidentally spilled or released when an item is discarded into a landfill, can move up the food chain and affect humans," said Miles Kuntz, Ecology's mercury-products ban coordinator.
Some mercury-containing products will not be part of the ban. They include fluorescent bulbs and batteries. Fluorescent bulbs are not illegal to sell, but the same law requiring the ban in January 2006, mandated that the bulbs be clearly labeled as mercury-containing since 2004.
The Legislature directed Ecology to enforce the law, which allows for a $1,000 fine for the first offense and $5,000 for a repeat violation.
"Our intent is not to fine store owners," said Kuntz. "We want to educate them and the public about what they can do to keep themselves, their families and communities mercury free."
Most counties or cities have household-hazardous-waste disposal programs. Members of the public can contact 1-800-RECYCLE (1-800-732-9253) to locate a collection site in their area.
Retailers who want more information on the ban should call Miles Kuntz at the Department of Ecology, 360-407-6748.
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Media contact: Caitlin Cormier, Department of Ecology, 360-407-6149
Madeline Beery, Department of Health, 360-236-3189
For more information:
Ecology's mercury site: http://www.mercurymess.org
Information on the mercury ban: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/eap/pbt/hgproductban.html
The Department of Health mercury site: http://www.doh.wa.gov/ehp/mercury/
Complete text of the law (Ch. 70.95M RCW): http://www.leg.wa.gov/RCW/index.cfm?fuseaction=chapterdigest&chapter=70.95M
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
