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 affected area, and call Environmental Protection staff immediately at 414-229-6339.
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.