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Mercury Thermometer Exchange Program
Contact: Kate Lumley-Sapanski, sapanski@ehs.psu.edu814-865-6391
Since the program began, 9,314 thermometers have been replaced and 574 pounds of mercury have been recycled.
The Penn State Environmental Health and Safety Department has started a pollution prevention initiative through the Mercury Thermometer Exchange Program (MTEP) at Penn State. We want to collect all of your mercury thermometers and replace them with high-tech accurate alternatives that are safe and non-toxic, environmentally friendly thermometers. We will be requiring that all University locations switch to non-mercury thermometers (except where absolutely needed).
What is the benefit to switching to a non-mercury thermometer?
Mercury fumes from broken thermometers present a hazard for faculty, staff, and students in laboratory areas. Mercury also presents a hazard to the local environment: mercury in broken thermometers in sinks eventually may end at the waste water treatment plant where it can endanger microbes and interfere with the treatment process. Broken mercury thermometers create hazardous waste that is costly to clean up and dispose of. The absence of mercury thermometers also reduces our regulatory risk and can potentially decrease the cost of renovation projects.
Do non-mercury thermometers work as well as mercury thermometers?
Although certain applications may continue to require slightly higher accuracy and precision of a fine mercury thermometer, most lab needs can be satisfied with non-mercury thermometers. All of the non-mercury thermometers proposed meet accuracy standards from the National Institute of Standard and Technology (NIST) and Deutscher Kalibrierdienst (DKD). If your application cannot use a non-mercury thermometer then we will ask that the thermometer be Teflon coated to prevent spills when broken. We can assist you with information either on purchasing Teflon coated thermometers or coating existing mercury thermometers.
Who should replace their mercury thermometer?
We recommend that anyone who is using mercury thermometers replace them with one of the thermometers proposed. Non-mercury thermometers can be used in most applications where mercury thermometers are traditionally used.
There are many non-mercury thermometers available for specialty applications including incubators, refrigerators, freezers, etc. Please contact Kate Lumley-Sapanski for more information. Fax (814) 863-7427, email: sapanski@ehs.psu.edu
Are there any drawbacks to a non-mercury thermometer?
In general, non-mercury thermometers have a lower usable temperature range.
The Non-mercury thermometers have a guaranteed accuracy of +/- one scale division below 105° C (221° F), +/- 1.5 scale divisions above 105° C (221° F), and +/- two scale divisions above 200° C (392° F). These ranges are comparable to most mercury thermometers of the same type and range.
Non-mercury thermometers need to be stored upright or the liquid inside will separate. Instructions will be available for recombining liquid that has separated in a non-mercury thermometer.
How can I replace my thermometers?
The Environmental Health and Safety Department of Penn State will provide a 1 to 1 thermometer replacement for you at no cost for most non-mercury thermometer models.
To help us in replacing your mercury thermometers please see "How can I replace my thermometers?".
We will contact you later to schedule a date to exchange your thermometers.
Most popular thermometer models:
-10 to 110° C - partial immersion
-20 to 150° C - partial immersion
-20 to 110° C - partial immersion
-10 to 260° C - partial immersion
-10 to 110° C - total immersion
-20 to 150° C - total immersion
Not sure if you need total or partial immersion?
A total immersion thermometer is 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. A partial immersion thermometer has a line around it at the immersion distance from the bottom. It indicates correctly when the bulb and liquid column to that line are exposed to the temperature being measured and the emergent stem is at ambient temperature. A total immersion thermometer may be used accurately at partial immersion if a mathematical correction is applied.
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