It may surprise you to learn that some newer devices contain mercury, such as laptop screens and compact fluorescent light bulbs. The manufacture of mercury-containing items is being phased out or has been eliminated, but mercury-containing items are likely present in your home. If one of these items breaks, the mercury can evaporate and become an odorless, invisible vapor that is toxic. This neurotoxin may cause irreversible brain damage, and can affect children developing in the womb. When these items are not properly recycled and are instead discarded with your normal trash, they can be incinerated or disposed of in landfills, which allows mercury-containing items to pollute our environment.The items in this list are prohibited from being disposed of in landfills. Contact your local municipality for recycling information.Certain Antiques:
- BAROMETERS Barometers are instruments used to measure atmospheric pressures. Antique barometers contain about 4 ounces of mercury on average.
- CLOCKS Clocks with pendulums may contain mercury; the mercury in the pendulum was used to keep it swinging at a steady rate.
- MIRRORS A reflecting layer of mercury was added to the glass.
- SOME BUTTON CELL BATTERIES Mercury in button cell batteries is used to prevent a buildup of gas inside the battery, which can cause them to leak.
- RELAYS AND SWITCHES Switches open or close electrical circuits and relays are electrically operated switches. Minnesota now has restrictions on the sale and/or distribution of switches and relays containing mercury, and many companies have stopped manufacturing switches and relays with mercury.
- OLD CLOTHES IRONS Mercury tilt switches were often used as on/off switches.
- LCD MONITORS, LAPTOP LCD MONITORS Mercury in the screen is electrically energized, which produces visible light.
- LIGHT-UP SHOES According to the EPA, mercury-containing light-up shoes are no longer sold.
- FLUORESCENT BULBS, COMPACT FLUORESCENT LIGHT BULBS (CLF’s) Mercury in the bulbs is electrically energized, which produces visible light. The US Environmental Protection Agency has this helpful webpage with instructions for what to do if a CFL breaks:http://www.epa.gov/cfl/cflcleanup.html
- OLDER ELECTRIC APPLIANCES: Some washing machine lids, chest freezers, space heaters, and clothes dryers used to be produced with mercury tilt switches, which functioned as on/off switches.
