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EPA Salutes Three Baystate Health System Hospitals for Mercury Reduction Efforts

Release Date: 03/27/2000
Contact Information: Peyton Fleming, EPA Press Office (617-918-1008)

BOSTON - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has announced that three Baystate Health System hospitals - the Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, the Franklin Medical Center in Greenfield and Mary Lane Hospital in Ware - have been recognized for their mercury reduction achievements. These hospitals have been accepted as participants 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 Baystate Medical Center under the Mercury Challenge program for its mercury reduction activities, including the replacement of 700 mercury containing blood pressure cuffs in their in-patient and out-patient area. This resulted in 240 pounds of bulk mercury being sent out for recycling. The Springfield facility also plans to continue phasing out mercury containing sphygmomanometers as well as exploring alternatives for equipment and chemical reagents that currently contain mercury. The medical center estimates that its mercury reduction activities have already removed 90 percent of all mercury containing items hospital-wide. In addition, the facility is being recognizing under the Partners for Change program for its battery recycling program. In 1998, the medical center recycled 1,098 pounds of lead acid batteries and, through last September, had recycled 575 pounds of lead acid and 30 pounds of nickel-cadmium batteries.

EPA is recognizing the Franklin Medical Center in Greenfield for similar mercury reduction activities, including eliminating virtually all mercury containing thermometers and sphygmomanometers hospital-wide. The medical center also plans to continue exploring alternatives for equipment and chemical reagents that are currently utilized that contain mercury. The facility estimates that their mercury reduction activities have removed 95 percent of the mercury containing items hospital wide.

EPA is recognizing Mary Lane Hospital in Ware for its mercury reduction activities which include conversion of all mercury containing blood pressure cuffs hospital-wide. Mary Lane Hospital plans to continue exploring alternatives and estimates that their mercury reduction activities have removed 95 percent of the mercury containing items.

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, acting 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 three Baystate Health System Hospitals is a major step forward in achieving this goal."

"Partners for Change" is open to any business, municipality or organized group in New England. Small businesses are especially encouraged to apply. To be recognized as a partner, an organization must implement a project or activity that results in a long-term environmentally beneficial change to its daily operations. Such efforts can include waste reduction practices, recycling programs or other efforts that help green the work place.

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.