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The Bellevue Hospital (TBH), in conjunction with four other area Community Care 5 hospitals, held a very successful mercury thermometer exchange on Saturday, Sept. 17.

The “drive-up thermometer exchange” was a way for local and area residents to properly dispose of old mercury thermometers in exchange for a brand new digital unit.

Displaying some of the collected materials are TBH employees Mick Dwyer, director of Environmental Services, Lupe Lozano, and Candy Gilbert.

According to Mick Dwyer, director of Environmental Services at TBH, a total of 215 small mercury thermometers were collected at the local facility, in addition to one large mercury thermometer, one blood pressure gauge, and two thermostats.

“Over 200 households were represented during the three-hour event, encompassing five towns and five counties,” noted Dwyer, who added that in most cases, the mercury thermometer represented the only thermometer many families had used over their entire lifetimes.

Also, those exchanging thermometers donated a total of $152 during the drive. That money will be used to help defray the cost of collection materials.

Also taking part in the CC5 mercury thermometer exchange program on Sept. 17 were Norwalk’s Fisher-Titus Hospital, Fremont’s Memorial Hospital, and Sandusky’s Firelands Regional Medical Center.

Over 800 mercury thermometers were collected at these four sites on Sept. 17.

Mercury thermometers contain between 0.5-1.5 grams of mercury. Just one gram of mercury can contaminate a 20-acre lake. Mercury also causes a variety of health effects, particularly for young children, including nervous system damage, liver damage, kidney damage, muscle tremors, impaired coordination, and mental disturbances.

For disposal of other products containing mercury, contact the Department of Environmental Health & Safety at Bowling Green State University, 419-372-2173.
 

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The Bellevue Hospital, 1400 W. Main Street - P O Box 8004, Bellevue, Ohio  44811-8004    419-483-4040
Last modified: 10/10/05