Each thermometer contains about .5-1.5 grams of mercury. One gram of mercury can contaminate a 20 acre lake, enough to cause a public advisory to be issued on the potential dangers of eating fish caught in that lake.
To prevent possible contamination, stop using your mercury thermometer. Get a new, safer type of thermometer and contact your local recycling center to find out how to dispose of your old mercury thermometer safely.
Safe Thermometers
There are several alternatives to mercury thermometers:
- digital thermometers
- glass gallium-tin thermometers
- glass alcohol thermometers
These non-mercury fever thermometers are just as good as mercury thermometers and much safer.