HB 943 would protect children's health by eliminating Illinois's largest
remaining category of mercury-containing products
SPRINGFIELD, IL—The House Environmental Health Committee today unanimously passed House
Bill 943, which would prohibit the sale of mercury-containing measuring
devices, the largest class of mercury-containing products in Illinois. Mercury is a toxic that damages the human heart,
brain and immune system—but is widely used in medical thermometers, blood
pressure cuffs, and other measuring devices despite the availability of alternatives.
"This bill is about protecting children's health," said Representative Karen May (D-Highland Park), the bill's chief sponsor and
House Environmental Health Committee chair. "If we don't curtail the major
sources of mercury pollution, we are knowingly endangering the healthy
development of Illinois
children."
"It's senseless to continue to expose Illinois children, medical professionals,
and patients to the health and a financial risk of mercury spills when mercury-free
alternatives are available and widely used," said Max Muller,
Environmental Advocate at Environment Illinois. "Some organizations are
already eliminating mercury-containing devices, but Illinois needs the legislature to act to
ensure the complete phase-out of this toxic, which is simply unnecessary in
these products."
When disposed of, mercury-containing measuring devices are often
crushed or incinerated causing airborne release. A single gram of mercury—less
than the amount in many measuring devices—is sufficient to contaminate a
20-acre lake. Thousands of pounds of mercury from these products is disposed of
each year.
When a pregnant mother eats contaminated fish, mercury crosses the
placenta to cause irreparable damage to the developing fetus's central nervous
system. Mercury contaminates fish in every body of water in Illinois, with 40 percent of fish samples exceeding
the safe limit for twice-per-week consumption. A recent sample of Illinois legislators revealed that 9 of 32 had mercury
levels above the safe limit, and researchers have shown that up to 100,000 Illinois women have
blood mercury levels high enough to put a fetus at risk.
For all measuring devices, mercury-free alternatives with equal or
better performance are available at comparable cost. Leading hospitals like
Johns Hopkins and the Mayo Clinic have phased-out mercury in medical measuring
devices. In Illinois, Omron, a leading medical device vendor based in
Bannockburn, has eliminated mercury from its product line, and Consorta, a bulk
purchaser based in Schaumburg, has eliminated mercury-containing devices from
its purchasing contracts.
"Hospitals are realizing that improper disposal isn't
mercury's only problem." Said John Gaudette, outreach coordinator at
Illinois Environmental Council, "The risk of leaking mercury is dangerous
for hospital staff and their patients, and when mercury spills, proper clean up
can cost hospitals tens of thousands of dollars."
Nine other states already have laws prohibiting mercury in
measuring devices.
"This bill may help achieve nation-wide phase-out by serving
as the tipping point beyond which manufacturers find it uneconomical to
continue making both mercury and non-mercury versions of their products,"
said Muller.
Today's committee vote moves the HB 943 to a vote by the full
House of Representatives. To become law, the bill must also pass the Senate and
be signed into law by Governor Rod Blagojevich.
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