Westchester County and food industry team up to educate people about risks of mercury  in some fish.

Mercury contamination in fish (NRDC)
(en espaņol)

Article XX: Ban of the use and sale of certain products containing mercury (pdf)

Fact Sheets and Pamphlets

What to do in case of a Mercury Spill

Mercury in the Environment 

En Espaņol:
Mercurio FAQ (Medline)

El Azogue (pdf) (NYCDOH)

You can exchange your Mercury Fever Thermometer:  Household Chemical Clean-Up Day

Press Releases:
July 6, 2004: Spano calls "outrageous" decision of Kellogg's cereal to recall spiderman toy.

July 2, 2004: Spano calls for boycott on Kellogg's cereal containing mercury toys.

April 30, 2004: Mercury contamination in Rye Brook. Health Department seeking residents who may have been in the area for testing. (pdf)

January 17, 2003: In wake of mercury spill at Medical Center, Spano renews push for tough legislation to ban mercury- containing devices

June 4, 2002: New County law requires mercury switches be removed from vehicles before they are crushed

October 9, 2001: Sale of mercury fever thermometers to be illegal in Westchester

Additional Resources:
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

New York City Health Department

(To view  and print documents in pdf format (),  you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader from Adobe Systems.  This software is free and you may download it here.)

Need to Know How to  Dispose of  Mercury? Call the  Household Chemical Waste Line: (914) 813-5425

Mercury is dangerous to your health. 
Mercury is naturally-occurring and has several forms (metallic, inorganic and organic). The most common form  is the shiny, silver-white metal that is called metallic mercury, or simply, mercury. It is a liquid at room temperature, easily breaks up into many small droplets and evaporates to form mercury vapor, a colorless and odorless gas, which is very dangerous if inhaled. 

Mercury has many uses including measuring temperature (in thermometers) and pressure (in barometers and blood pressure units), and in batteries, electrical switches, and mercury vapor lamps, including fluorescent bulbs. 

 Some groups in Latin American and Caribbean cultures use mercury called azogue or vi dajan in religious rituals. These cultural, medicinal and religious uses of mercury can lead to mercury exposure and the possibility of health effects.

Exposure to mercury may result from breathing air contaminated by mercury vapor, from skin absorption when handling mercury liquid, or by eating contaminated foods or drinking contaminated liquids. Exposure to sufficiently high levels of mercury can cause permanent damage to the nervous system and brain, kidneys and developing fetus. Mercury affects many different brain functions and a variety of symptoms may occur. These include tremors, loss of sensation and difficulties with memory, and irritability.  In addition, skin rashes, eye irritation, and changes in kidney function can occur.

Health effects of exposure to mercury are most often caused by breathing large amounts of mercury vapor. However, long-term exposure to lower levels of mercury vapor can also cause health effects. After a spill, tiny droplets of mercury can become trapped in cracks, crevices, fabrics, rugs, etc., and can continue to release mercury vapor. To prevent continued exposure, every spill of mercury requires a thorough clean-up by a professional. DO NOT use a vacuum cleaner to clean up a mercury spill. A vacuum cleaner will spread the mercury vapors into the air.

Westchester County Executive Andy Spano has introduced legislation to protect residents of Westchester County from the dangers of mercury for passage by the Board of Legislators.

Click here to view the Local Law adding Article XX to Chapter 863 banning the use and sale of certain products containing mercury.

What can you do?

   Mercury fever thermometers are a significant source of mercury to the environment, and if a broken mercury thermometer isn't cleaned up properly, the mercury can get into the air and pose a health risk in the user's home.   There are several good, environmentally-friendly alternatives to mercury thermometers.  These include: 

• digital electronic thermometers 
• ear canal thermometers 
• flexible "forehead thermometers"

After replacing your mercury fever thermometers with a safer alternative, call the Household Chemical Waste Line at (914) 813-5425 to find out how to safely discard your mercury thermometer.  DO NOT SIMPLY THROW IT AWAY IN YOUR GARBAGE.