Media Release

For Immediate Release
Date: May 17, 2004
Contact: Robert Marshall, PhD. 222-1017
Robert Vanderslice, PhD. 222-7766

HEALTH Announces Mercury Thermometer Exchange Program; Protects Health and Prevents Pollution

The Rhode Island Department of Health (HEALTH) announces a Mercury Thermometer & Thermostat Exchange to be held at 3 locations on Saturday, May 22, 2004, in partnership with: Audubon Society of Rhode Island, Clean Water Fund, CVS/Pharmacy, Regional Poison Center, The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM), The Bristol Fire Department, The Hope Valley Fire Department, and The Warwick Fire Department.

Participants will receive a Free Digital Thermometer or Free CVS ExtraBucks Coupon (while supplies last) redeemable at their local CVS/Pharmacy by trading in their old mercury fever thermometer or mercury home thermostat. Residential materials ONLY. One per family. Bring the thermometer in its original container or a plastic ziploc bag.

The three Rhode Island locations are:

• Warwick Fire Department
  140 Veterans Memorial Drive
  Saturday, May 22, 2004
  9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
• Hope Valley Fire Department
  996 Main Street
  Saturday, May 22, 2004
  9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
• Bristol Fire Department
  Corner of Metacom Avenue and Anawamsecutt Street
  Saturday, May 22, 2004
  9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Mercury from broken mercury thermometers and thermostats in the home present a risk to your family’s health. Also, when mercury-containing products are broken, thrown in the trash, discarded outdoors or put down the drain, the mercury pollutes our environment. Breathing mercury fumes, eating contaminated fish or touching spilled mercury exposes people to bad health effects.

Help to safely dispose of mercury properly by bringing mercury fever thermometers or thermostats to one of the free disposal sites and receive a free digital thermometer or free CVS ExtraBucks Coupon (while supplies last).