Mercury House

Mercury can be found in devices throughout the home. Move your mouse slowly over the picture to find the mercury. (Hint: there are twenty of them)

Switches - mercury used as an electrical conductor in a variety of switches. When the device is moved, the switch tilts and mercury makes the electrical contact.

• Thermostats/non-digital thermostats, usually round, contain 3-6 grams of mercury. Programmable thermostats should be used not only to reduce mercury, but also to save energy and money from heating bills.
• Wall light switches that were silent and manufactured before 1991
• Chest freezer lights and automobile hood and truck lights
• Irons/Space Heaters - safety shut-off switch in case the iron falls over
• Washing machine- safety shut-off switch under the lid so the spin cycle stops when the lid opens
• Outboard motor - safety shut-off
• Lap-top computer- screen shuts off when closed
• Sump pumps/Septic systems - floater switch to turn on pumps when water reaches certain levels
• Lawn mower - fuel level indicator
• Security systems- switch used to activate alarm when movement is sensed
• Phones - mute switch when phone is a horizontal position

Thermometers - mercury used in fever, basal, weather, and candy/deep fry thermometers since mercury expands and contracts evenly with changes in temperature

Lights - mercury used in fluorescent lights, neon lights (window advertising), high- pressure sodium vapor lights (outdoor security and street lighting), high-intensity discharge lights (headlights). However, fluorescent lights are very energy and cost efficient so they should be used, but recycled.

Batteries

• Button batteries - mercuric oxide, silver oxide, zinc air button batteries, used in watches, hearing aids, toys and other devices requiring small batteries, contain small amount of mercury.
• Cylindrical and rectangular cell batteries - alkaline batteries sold before 1996 and zinc carbon batteries sold before 1994 contain mercury.

Old ovens, water heaters, furnaces - thermostat probe, which opens and closes the gas-control valve, used as a safety feature in gas-fired appliances

Agricultural chemicals/lawn chemicals/latex paint/wood treatment - mercury used as a pesticide, fungicide, or mildewcide. Use of mercury in latex paint was banned in 1991 and in the other products by 1995.

Contact lens solutions (thimerosal), nasal sprays, diuretics, disinfectants, eye cosmetics - mercury used as a preservative

Cameras - position sensor used in still, video and film cameras to protect CCD from sunlight

Light-up shoes - switch

Maze game - blob of mercury used in maze

Chemistry sets - mercury used for some of the experiments in children's chemistry sets

Archery bow - mercury in the stabilizer of the 6", 8 ounce and 10", 11 ounce "Neutralizer" models