Don't send mercury thermometers home with new moms!

Alabama Nurse, Dec 2004-Feb 2005

In a recent study, Carpi and Chen found that 10% of the homes they evaluated had indoor air levels of mercury exceeding the EPA's reference concentration (300ng m(-3)) due to historic accidents with mercury containing devices. Exposure to mercury via indoor air is seen as second only to fish consumption as a source of mercury in the general population. (Carpi, A. and Chen, Y.F., 2001, Environmental Science Technology, Novl:35(21):4170-3)

The Maryland Nurses Association joined the Health Care Without Harm initiative this year. The Maryland Nurse will carry regular articles on the Nurses role in being defenders of environmental health. Also, plan on attending the Health Care Without Harm educational session at this year's MNA Convention titled "Occupational and Environmental Threats within Healthcare: Nurses Role in Reducing Risk."