Environmental agency recognizes 13 hospitals Maine institutions credited for mercury-reduction efforts

BOSTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has named 13 Maine hospitals for efforts last year to reduce use of mercury.

During the last two years, New England participants have eliminated more than 1,120 pounds of mercury from waste streams by replacing equipment such as thermometers. Ire Leighton, acting regional administrator at the EPA New England Office, said that the hospitals deserve credit for leadership in taking on a serious environmental and public health threat.

Maine hospitals named include Cary Medical Center, Caribou; MaineGeneral Health, Waterville; MaineGeneral Medical Center, Augusta; MaineGeneral Health Associates, Gardiner; MaineGeneral Rehabilitation and Nursing Care, Augusta; Jackman Region Health Center, Jackman; HealthReach Network, Waterville; Maine Medical Center, Portland; Mayo Regional Hospital, Dover-Foxcroft; Mid Coast Hospital, Brunswick; Southern Maine Medical Center, Biddeford; St. Andrews Hospital and Healthcare Center, Boothbay Harbor; and St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center, Lewiston.

Cary Medical Center eliminated mercury thermometers, a third of its sphygmomanometers, and 80 percent of mercury containing chemicals in the laboratory. More reduction is planned for the next several years, including phasing out all mercury sphygmomanometers, recycling fluorescent bulbs and replacing mercury-containing products and equipment with substitutes.

MaineGeneral Health, Waterville; MaineGeneral Medical Center, Augusta; MaineGeneral Health Associates, Gardiner; MaineGeneral Rehabilitation and Nursing Care, Augusta; Jackman Region Health Center, Jackman; and HealthReach Network Waterville, replaced all mercury containing blood pressure units and all glass mercury thermometers, except a few in the laboratory. The MaineGeneral facilities have stopped sending patients home with mercury thermometers.

Maine Medical Center was recognized last year under the Mercury Challenge program and is continuing this year with elimination of sphygmomanometers and 90 percent of manometers. The center also donated $1,000 of nonmercury thermometers to the city of Portland for a mercury awareness program.

Mayo Regional Hospital has replaced thermometers for patients and will replace mercury light bulbs. The hospital goal is to be mercury-free or to ensure proper management where no substitutes are possible.

Mid Coast Hospital has evaluated drains and traps and sewer lines and has replaced mercury-containing devices with substitutes. The laboratory will phase out mercury-containing chemicals and equipment and the hospital is recycling fluorescent lights and trying alternatives. Mercury blood pressure units and thermometers were replaced in 1992.

Southern Maine Medical Center has replaced more than 50 mercury blood pressure units and eliminated mercury thermometers for patient care. All mercury lab thermometers except one have been removed. Fluorescent lights will be replaced with low-mercury bulbs and options to replace mercury pressure switches and water level switches are being explored. The hospital has eliminated mercury dilators and stopped buying mercury batteries.

St. Andrews Hospital has eliminated most mercury oral thermometers and is starting a mercury and alkaline battery recycling program, developing a fluorescent light recycling program and phasing out its mercury blood pressure units. Last year, the hospital sent seven pounds of mercury to be recycled and plans to seek alternatives to nine remaining mercury oral patient thermometers. The hospital will hold a community awareness and thermometer collection program in cooperation with the DEP, town officials and waste plants.

St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center has replaced 90 percent of its mercury sphygmomanometers, half of its mercury thermometers and mercury esophageal dilators, and plans to replace all units this year. Mercury fluorescent lamps have been recycled since May 1999 and all mercury batteries are recycled. The center no longer gives outgoing patients mercury thermometers.

For information on reducing mercury at medical facilities, call 1-888-372-7341, or visit www.epa.gov/region01/steward/neeat/mercury/.