Media Release

For: Immediate Release
Date: June 2,2004
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 a single location on Saturday, June 5, 2004, in partnership with:

CVS/Pharmacy
Warwick Fire Department
RI Department of Environmental Management (DEM)

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

The location in Rhode Island is:

Warwick Fire Department
140 Veterans Memorial Drive
Saturday, June 5, 2004
8:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m.

Accidental mercury releases from broken mercury thermometers and thermostats in the home present a risk to your family’s health. When mercury-containing products are broken or thrown in the trash, outdoors or down the drain, the mercury can pollute our environment. People can be exposed to mercury by breathing fumes, eating contaminated fish or touching spilled mercury.

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