The MN Po llution Control Agency and the MN Dept. of Health have done a lot of work i n this area. In fact, they have a black Labrador Retriever named Clancy tra ined to sniff out mercury vapor that they take to schools both for demonstr ation and testing purposes. (They also have mercury vapor meters - I figure d I best include that note as well.)

- Diane Amell, MNOSHA

 < /o:p>

Good morning, Jim--

You could try some of the sc hools in the Great Lakes area. This region is a little more sensitized to m ercury as an environmental hazard due to the fish consumption guidelines (w e do love our fish frys), and many people fish on the smaller lakes as well for recreation & dinner.

The warnings about how much fish is saf e to eat for the various groups of the population are on the local news eve ry time they are revised. The reports also usually indicate the contaminant responsible foe the guideline.

Beth

Beth Shepard < span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#99999 9'>/ Technical Compliance Specialist
Regulatory Compliance
6000 N. Teu tonia Ave. / Milwaukee, WI 53209 / USA
P: (414) 438-3850, x5471
sigma-aldrich.com


< /p>

< b>JAKSAFET Y**At_Symbol_Here**AOL.COM Sent by: DCHAS-L Discussion List <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU> 03/25/2011 09:16 AM Please respond to DCHAS-L Discussi on List <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU>

To DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU < /o:p> cc Subject Re: [DCHAS-L] Residual Mercury in Schools

Monona and colleagues,
 
I understand and appreciate yo ur point.  I'm hoping that with nearly 15,000 schools in the country t hat we'll find a couple with the "fortitude" to have a look and s ee if this is or is not a reasonable concern.  If NYC is not intereste d, we'll try Boston.  ... Jim
 
James A. Kaufman, Ph.D.
Ch air, ICASE Committee on Safety in Science Education
International Counci l for Associations of Science Education
www.icaseonline.net

President/CEO

The Laboratory Safety Institute (LSI)
A Non profit International Organization for
Safety in Science and Science Educ ation

192 Worcester Road, Natick, MA 01760-2252
508-647-1900 Fax: 508-647-0062 Skype: labsafe
Cell: 508-574-6264 Res: 781-237-1335
jim **At_Symbol_Here**labsafetyinstitute.org www.labsafetyin stitute.org
P We thank you for printing this e-mail only if it is necessary
  In a message dated 3/25/2011 12:15:59 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time , LISTSERV**At_Symbol_Here**list.uvm.edu writes:
Jim,

The schools are alrea dy in a bind due to the finding of excessive levels of PCBs in the air from light ballasts, caulks, and other PCB-containing building materials.   ;Mayor Bloomberg is concerned about the expense of replacing the light ball asts when he already says they will have to lay off a few thousand teachers .

I think if you mentioned testing for residual airborne mercury to school administrators, they'd reach for the Valium and pitch your letter in the round file.

Monona

In a message dated 3/24/2011 11:55:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time, JAKSAFETY**At_Symbol_Here**AOL.COM writes:


The L aboratory Safety Institute (LSI) is considering a project to evaluate the p resence of residual amounts of mercury in middle, junior, and senior high s chools.
< /span> 
If there are any schools in the New York City area which woul d like to participate, please contact me to discuss the project. ... Jim


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