Penn State Intercom......March 27, 2003
University's thermometers are going green
By Bill Campbell
Special to Intercom
Thermometers throughout
the University have taken on a new -- and environmentally friendly --
look. In an intensive pollution-prevention and health-hazard reduction
project, the Department of Environmental Protection and Health (EHS) is
removing mercury thermometers and replacing them with environmentally
safe equivalents that eliminate the risk of potentially dangerous mercury
release. 
Thus far, more than 7,000 thermometers, containing some 400 pounds of mercury, have been collected and replaced.
"Thermometers are very important research and medical tools and there is widespread use of them throughout the University," said Kate Lumley-Sapanski, manager of Environmental Health and Safety in EHS. "Temperature often is critical in University labs, so the need for thermometers is vital. We established the thermometer exchange program because of the danger mercury poses to health and safety and the environment."
If mercury thermometers are broken, the vapors can be absorbed by the body, Lumley-Sapanski said, noting that long-term exposure to high levels of mercury can lead to neurological problems. If a mercury spill occurs in a heated area or on a warm day, it can create a dangerous working environment. Improper disposal of mercury thermometers also can release the chemical into soil and streams, causing contamination.
"Cost is a third
major impetus for the replacement program," Lumley-Sapanski said. "In
the past, it was not unusual for EHS to 
be called two to three
times a week to clean up mercury from a broken thermometer. Responding
to clean-up spills costs $200 to $300 a spill since it involves staff
time and disposal costs. It is not a good use of University resources
when some other alternative is available.
"The thermometer replacement program is expected to cost $50,000. However, thus far the number of mercury spills has been reduced to one fourth of that previously handled by EHS. This translates into a savings over previous costs of approximately $10,000 annually."
The program was initiated in June 2001 and uses replacement thermometers identified in a smaller project at Stanford University. It first took place in the Eberly College of Science's Department of Chemistry, where there was a large concentration of thermometers.
"One of our concerns was that the new thermometers would not perform as well as the mercury thermometers," Lumley-Sapanski said. "Stanford EHS reported that the thermometers had provided the level of accuracy and performance required for their research. We have gotten very positive reaction from our faculty members and researchers to the new thermometers and the replacement project. We have expanded it to most departments on campus, and more than one-half of non-University Park campuses have participated in and completed the changeover."
The new thermometers are similar to the mercury thermometers, but use a liquid made up of white oil, natural citrus oils and green dye. VWR Scientific, the company that markets the thermometers, characterizes the liquid as non-toxic, non-hazardous and biodegradable.
For some applications, there are no non-mercury equivalent thermometers. In those cases, Lumley-Sapanski said, the mercury thermometers are coated with Teflon as a precautionary measure against a spill.
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection last month launched a program to collect as many mercury thermometers as possible statewide and replace them with digital thermometers.
Lumley-Sapanski said EHS did not use digital thermometers in its replacement program because of the cost factor. "They are good quality and highly accurate, but they are more expensive and we felt purchasing them for the entire University would not be a good use of University resources," she said. "University Health Services Pharmacy only carries the digital thermometers for sale for personal use."
For its pollution-prevention initiatives, including the thermometer exchange program, Environmental Health and Safety received a 2002 Governor's Award for Environmental Excellence. Other programs include extensive training for faculty, staff and students working with chemicals or chemical waste, a project in the chemistry and biochemistry and molecular biology departments to develop the best idea to minimize waste, and an expanded communications program on environmental issues.
"These initiatives are important in helping the University reduce the risk of pollution and potential health hazards to our faculty, staff and students," Maurine Claver, EHS director said. "And they have been successful because of the cooperation and concern for the environment by all members of the Penn State community."
Lumley-Sapanski said EHS hopes to complete the thermometer changeover this fiscal year.
"It is a very time-intensive project," she said. "We communicate with faculty members explaining the project and then visit the labs. There is no inventory of all thermometers at the University, but, based on what we have collected and where we have collected them, I would estimate that the project is 75 percent to 85 percent completed.
"To assist in the replacement program, we encourage anyone who thinks they have a mercury thermometer to contact Environmental Health and Safety so that we can remove and replace it."
Bill Campbell can be reached at wjc1@psu.edu.