State Laws Banning Mercury-Containing Devices

More than a dozen states have passed comprehensive legislation aimed at reducing the amounts of mercury in their states. There are four different types of legislation:

• Bans on the sale of mercury fever thermometers - i.e., devices using liquid mercury to measure the internal body heat of a living individual/creature
• Bans on mercury-added novelties - i.e., products such as shoes, toys, jewelry, cards, ornaments, and statues that contain mercury components
• Prohibition on the use of elemental chemical mercury in and near schools, hospitals, and dentist offices
• Bans on the use of mercury in switches, measuring devices, instruments, and thermostats

Other states have attempted to pass similar laws. The following web sites summarize the major legislative activity regarding mercury bans: www.hcwh.org/mercury/ordinances and
www.delta-institute.org/pollprev/p2news/StateFedHglegislation.htm

State bans on mercury fever thermometers:

1. Illinois (H.B. 1530)
2. Washington (H.B. 1002)
3. Michigan (H.B. 4599)
4. Connecticut (CGS Section 22a-613)
5. Massachusetts (H.B. 3772)
6. California (S.B. 663)
7. Oregon (H.B. 3007)
8. Rhode Island (S.B. 0153)
9. Maine (LD 1665)
10. Maryland (H.B. 75)
11. Indiana (H.B. 1901)
12. Minnesota (S.F. 70 and H.F. 274)
13. New Hampshire (H.B. 1418)
14. New Jersey (CHAPTER 80
15. New York (www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/8512.html
16. Vermont (www.leg.state.vt.us/statutes/fullsection.cfm?Title=10&Chapter=164&Section=07105

State bans on mercury-added novelties:

1. New Hampshire (H.B. 1418)
2. Indiana (H.B. 1901)
3. Oregon (H.B. 3007
4. California (S.B. 663)
5. Illinois (H.B. 1530)
6. Washington (H.B. 1002
7. Connecticut (CGS Section 22a-613)
8. Minnesota (Minnesota Statutes 2001, sections 115A.932, 116.92))
9. New York (www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/8512.html)
10. Rhode Island (Mercury Reduction and Education Act, 23-24.9-3(9))
11. Vermont (www.leg.state.vt.us/statutes/fullsection.cfm?Title=10&Chapter=164&Section=07105)

State prohibition of the use of elemental chemical mercury in schools and/or hospitals and dentist offices:

1. New Hampshire (H.B. 1418)
2. Indiana (H.B. 1901)
3. Maryland (H.B. 75)
4. Maine (LD 1665)
5. California (AB 1415)
6. Washington (H.B. 1002)
7. New York (A00875)
8. Vermont (www.leg.state.vt.us/statutes/fullsection.cfm?Title=10&Chapter=164&Section=07105)
9. Massachusetts (Massachusetts Mercury Management Act (Chapter 190 of the Acts of 2006)
10. Connecticut (www.noharm.org/library/docs/Connecticut_Mercury_Law.htm)
11. Minnesota (Minnesota Statutes 2001, sections 115A.932, 116.92))

State bans on the use of mercury in switches, measuring devices, instruments, and thermostats:

1. Maine (MRSA § 1661)
2. Washington (H.B. 1002)
3. Oregon (H.B. 3007)
4. California (AB 1415)
5. Massachusetts (Massachusetts Mercury Management Act (Chapter 190 of the Acts of 2006)
6. New York (www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/8512.html)
7. Vermont (www.leg.state.vt.us/statutes/fullsection.cfm?Title=10&Chapter=164&Section=07105)
8. Connecticut (H.B. 5539)
9. Minnesota (Minnesota Statutes 2001, sections 115A.932, 116.92))
10. Michigan (Public Act 578 of 2002)

State incentives for contractor recycling of mercury containing thermostats:
1. Wisconsin
2. Washington
3. Maine
4. Minnesota