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Great Lakes Binational Toxics Strategy
Stakeholder Forum - 1998
IMPLEMENTING THE BINATIONAL
TOXICS STRATEGY
Mercury Workgroup
Reducing Mercury Use in Healthcare
Promoting a Healthier Environment
A How-To-Manual
Prepared by the Monroe, County Department of Health, In cooperation with Strong Memorial Hospital, Rochester, New York and the Monroe County Department of Environmental Services, with funding by a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Table of Contents
List of Tables
List of Figures
Acknowledgments
Chapter 1. Introduction
Background on Mercury
Health Impacts of Mercury Exposure
Mercury in Medical Facilities
Mercury Pollution Prevention
Benefits of Mercury Pollution Prevention
Chapter 2. How to Establish Mercury Pollution Prevention in Your Hospital
Get Started
Gather Data
Establish Realistic Goals and Implementation Plans
Institute Best Management Practices
Measure and Document Success
Advertise Success
Chapter 3. Best Management Practices for Mercury - Containing Products in the Hospital
Introduction
Fever Thermometers
Sphygmomanometers
Gastrointestinal Tubes
Dental Amalgam and Mercury
Laboratory Chemicals
Pharmaceutical Products
Cleaners and Degreasers
Batteries
Lamps
Electrical Equipment
Thermostat Probes in Gas Appliances
Industrial Thermometers
Pressure Gauges
Plumbing
Spills
Storage Areas
Hospital Employee Health and Safety
Appendices
A. Instruments and Products, Used in Hospitals, That May Contain Mercury
B. Laboratory Chemicals That May Contain Mercury
C. Regulatory Information Contacts for Counties in the Rochester Embayment Watershed
D. Benefits of a Mercury Pollution Prevention Program in Your Hospital (Handouts)
E. Annual Assessment of the Hospital's Mercury Pollution Prevention Program
F. Wastewater Sampling and Analysis
G. Mercury Pollution Prevention Cost or Savings Worksheets
H. Sample Letter Requesting Certificate of Analysis and Sample Certificate of Analysis
1. Vendor Product Mercury - Content Disclosure
J. Educational Resources for a Mercury Pollution Prevention Program
K. Disposal of Take - Home Household Mercury Thermometers by Patients
L. Mercury Reduction Case Studies
- Strong Memorial Hospital, Rochester New York
- F.F. Thompson Hospital, Canandaigua, New York
- Case Studies of Mercury Pollution Prevention Measures in Michigan Health Care Institutions
- Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA)/Medical, Academic and Scientific Community Organization (MASCO) Mercury Work Group
- Mercury Management at Mayo Clinic
- St. Mary's Medical Center, Duluth, Minnesota
M. Prevent Mercury Pollution: Use Best Management Practices for Amalgam Handling and
Recycling
N. Mercury Waste Recyclers
0. Infrastructure Control Measures
P. Strong Memorial Hospital Mercury Spill Clean - Up Procedures
Q. Glossary of Terms
R. Bibliography
Tables
- Alternatives for Mercury - Containing Fever Thermometers
- Alternatives for Mercury - Containing Sphygmomanometers
- Alternatives for Mercury - Containing Gastrointestinal Tubes
- Alternatives for Mercury - Containing Laboratory Chemicals
- Pharmaceutical Uses of Mercury
- Mercury Content of Selected Cleaning Products: Information from MWRA/MASCO Mercury Work Group
- Batteries (Newly Purchased) That May Contain Added Mercury (1998)
- Mercury - Containing Electrical Equipment
- Alternatives for Mercury - Containing Industrial Thermometers
- Alternatives for Mercury - Containing Laboratory Manometers
Figures
1. Mercury Transport and Bioaccumulation
2. How to Establish Mercury Pollution Prevention in Your Hospital
Acknowledgments
Many individuals contributed to the research, preparation and review of this manual. In
addition to the persons listed below, there were numerous others who contributed by
sharing information and knowledge.
Mercury Pollution Prevention Team:
Carole Beal, Monroe County Department of Health, primary author
Mary Joy DelConte, Nixon, Hargrave, Devans & Doyle
Richard Elliott, Monroe County Department of Health
Dr. Thomas Gasiewicz, University of Rochester Medical Center
Dr. Grant LeMasters, University of Rochester Eastman Dental Center
Anna Madden, Monroe County Department of Health
Dr. Charles Oster, University of Rochester Eastman Dental Center
Margaret Peet, Monroe County Department of Health
Harry Reiter, Monroe County Department of Environmental Services
Michael Schifano, Monroe County Department of Environmental Services
Lynn Schramel, Monroe County Department of Environmental Services
Dr. Carol Scott, University of Rochester Environmental Health and
Safety
Drew Smith, Monroe County Department of Environmental Services
Marvin Stillman, University of Rochester Environmental Health and
Safety
University of Rochester Medical Center Mercury Reduction Work Group:
Kathy Parrinello, Chair, Hospital Administrator
John Borrelli, Department of Dentistry
Nils Gurdin, Medical Engineering Laboratory
Tracy Herbert, Facilities
Ernest Myers, Hospital Stores
Vivian Palladoro, Clinical Laboratories
Jane Pleasants, Procurement Services
David Roney, Hospital Housekeeping
Melinda Spry, Quality Assurance
Marvin Stillman, Environmental Health and Safety
Nancy Vanderhoof, Nursing Practice
Chris Van Stean, LEARN
Others Who Assisted with Research, Preparation and/or Review.
Robert Barczak, Emerson - Swan, Inc.
Alexis Cain, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Randy Case, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Margaret Cleary, Monroe County Department of Health
Richard Dapson, Anatech Ltd.
Joanne DelMonte, Monroe County Publication Services
Dr. Andrew Doniger, Monroe County Department of Health
Kathy Fulton, University of Rochester Medical Center
John Gilkeson, Minnesota Office of Environmental Assistance
Matt Gluckman, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Danielle Green, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Jamie Harvie, Western Lake Superior Sanitary District
Andrea Jacobs, Xerox Corporation
Ann Jones, Monroe County Environmental Health Advisory Board
Ed Klappenbach, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Mark Kress, University of Rochester Environmental Health and Safety
Bruce Lourie, Pollution Probe
Charles Monahan, Panasonic Industrial Company
Dr. Gary Myers, University of Rochester Medical Center
Lawrence Nadler, New York State Department of Environmental
Conservation
Barbara Nuffer, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
Susanne Quarterman, Monroe County Environmental Management Council
Karen Rondeau, Massachusetts Water Resources Authority
Tim Tuominen, Western Lake Superior Sanitary District
Chris Urban, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Wanda Welles, New York State Department of Health
Michael Zanghi, F.F. Thompson Hospital
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