All News Releases By Date

EPA Salutes Holy Family Hospital and Medical Center for Mercury Reduction Efforts

Release Date: 03/23/2000
Contact Information: Peyton Fleming, EPA Press Office (617-918-1008)

BOSTON - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has announced that the Holy Family Hospital and Medical Center in Methuen has been recognized for mercury reduction achievements. The hospital, a member of the Caritas Christi Health Care System, has been accepted as a participant in the agency's "Partners for Change Mercury Challenge" program, which encourages New England medical facilities to lead the nation in eliminating mercury and mercury-containing waste by 2003 in return for EPA recognition.

EPA is recognizing the hospital and medical center under the Mercury Challenge program for its mercury reduction achievements, including a total phase out of mercury thermometers and mercury blood pressure units in the near future. In addition, the hospital held a employees and community thermometer swap to help educate employees and the community about mercury. During the thermometer exchange, 725 mercury thermometers were collected from employees and the community.

The hospital has also begun a program to recycle its flourescent lamps. The hospital had already eliminated its use of mercury oxide batteries.

Mercury is a highly toxic, naturally occurring metal that moves between water, air and soil as a result of natural and human activities. The primary health effects of mercury are in the neurological development of children exposed through fish consumption and fetuses exposed through their mother's consumption of fish. Removing mercury thermometers and other mercury-containing equipment from the health care industry waste stream is one of the most effective methods of reducing the amount of mercury in the environment.

"Widespread exposure to mercury is one of the most serious environmental health risks in New England," said Mindy S. Lubber, regional administrator of EPA's New England Office, which last year mailed letters to 276 health care facilities in New England challenging them to eliminate mercury and mercury containing waste by the year 2003. "Medical facilities can make a major difference in helping to reduce mercury in the environment. This effort by the Holy Family Hospital and Medical Center is a major step forward in achieving this goal."

The Partners for Change Mercury Challenge - a branch of Partners for Change recognition program - is designed to promote voluntary, measurable mercury reductions at medical facilities. Medical facilities commit to meeting their own specified mercury reduction goals and agree to make good faith voluntary effort to identify and implement prevention measures. To be recognized as a partner, a medical facility must have a mercury inventory, a quantifiable mercury reduction goal, an action plan and must report on progress made toward achieving its goal.

In return for joining the programs, partners receive a certificate, window decal, and publicity from the EPA. In addition, partners are featured in a partners-to-partners directory that lists all participating organizations and supporting organizations.

To sign up for Partners for Change or Partners for Change Mercury Challenge, or for more information about the program call 1-888-372-7341. Request the "Mercury Challenge environmental pocketbook," a resource guide with useful tips on mercury reduction, as well as phone, e-mail and worldwide web listings of EPA help lines. The pocketbook also includes program requirements and an application.