Mercury

Wisconsin Ban on Mercury-Containing Products

The State of Wisconsin has placed a ban on the sale of certain mercury –containing products. In other words, you will no longer be able to buy the following items containing mercury without an exemption.

mercury switches

thermometers

manometers

barometers

mercury-added thermostats

esophageal dilators

bougie tubes

gastrointestinal tube

flowmeters

hydrometers

hygrometers

psychrometers

pyrometers

sphygmomanometer

Mercury salts and other compounds are not banned for sale to University of Wisconsin campuses. For more details about the 2009 Wisconsin Act 44 and other information about the mercury ban and exemptions, see UW System’s publication

If you have a mercury spill in your lab, cordon-off the effected area, and call Environmental Protection staff immediately at x6339.

Refer to the Safety Data Sheet for specific instructions on clean up of spills and leaks. All waste and spill clean up materials containing mercury must be collected for pickup by staff from the Environmental Protection Program.