MPCA Mercury Educator Carol Hubbard and Clancy, the mercury-detecting dog, helped remove more than one ton of mercury from Minnesota s schools.

Mercury-Free Zone Program terminated because of state law

Because mercury has been banned from Minnesota schools, thanks to a law passed by the Minnesota Legislature, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has ended its Mercury-Free Zone Program and the Get the Mercury Out Now! effort.

Although schools can no longer enroll in the Mercury-Free Zone Program, the MPCA continues to work with Minnesota schools, the Minnesota Department of Education and the Minnesota Department of Health to address mercury issues in schools. These three state agencies provide resources to schools ― information, assistance and guidance for issues related to mercury.  See: Mercury in schools.

Although there’s not supposed to be mercury or mercury-containing equipment in Minnesota schools, other than fluorescent bulbs and gauges for school heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) and other mechanical systems, someone may bring mercury into a school. Should this happen and a mercury spill occur, the spill should be reported to the Minnesota Duty Officer (651-649-5451 or 800-422-0798). The MPCA and the Minnesota Department of Health have developed guidelines for cleaning up mercury spills in schools.  See: Cleaning up a mercury spill in your school.

If you are a school administrator, teacher, or other employee and need advice about removing mercury or mercury-containing equipment from your school, contact Dan Tranter of the Minnesota Department of Health’s Indoor Air Unit at 651-201-4618 or email him at Daniel.Tranter@state.mn.us.

You may also contact Dan Tranter about his school mercury assessment service. These assessments are being conducted in partnership with the MPCA and do not involve a mercury-detecting dog or student education.

Program’s goals were to make schools safer and to educate

In November of 2000, the MPCA’s Lake Superior Initiative started the Mercury-Free Zone (MFZ) Program as a pilot project in northeastern Minnesota. Thirty-three schools were assessed to determine the amount of mercury and mercury-containing instruments each had on site. On average, more than two pounds of mercury were found in each school, either in storage containers or as a component of instruments.

In 2001, the MPCA took the Mercury-Free Zone Program statewide, offering building assessments for mercury, equipment exchanges, and education to schools that pledged to work toward the goals of the program. Pledging schools agreed to inventory their facilities for mercury and mercury-containing equipment, and some schools also elected to allow MPCA staff to search their buildings for mercury spills and unknown or hidden elemental mercury and mercury-containing chemicals and equipment.

During the assessments, MPCA staff used Clancy, a mercury-detecting dog, and a Lumex unit, an instrument that measures the amount of mercury in the air, with the understanding that any mercury spill that was found would be cleaned up and any mercury-containing equipment would be removed at the school’s expense. The MPCA gave mercury-free barometers, thermometers, blood pressure units, and psychrometers to each school that agreed to recycle its mercury-containing equipment.

Educational presentations about mercury and its dangers were also offered to the schools, and MPCA staff gave educational presentations to students and school staff during most site visits. Teachers were also given a mercury curriculum and an educational video. In addition, students were given educational brochures to share with their families.

In 2007, the Minnesota Legislature passed a law banning mercury in schools, from kindergartens to senior high schools, with the goal of having schools mercury free by the end of 2009. At that time, Mercury-Free Zone Program staff undertook the Get the Mercury Out Now! effort, offering schools free disposal of their mercury and mercury-containing items as well as complimentary mercury-free equipment. Clancy was retired in December 2009 and the Mercury-Free Zone Program came to an end.

Almost half of the mercury in Minnesota schools was removed through the Mercury-Free Zone Program

What did the Mercury-Free Zone Program accomplish?

• Raised awareness of the dangers presented by mercury in schools, which may have facilitated passage of the law banning mercury in Minnesota schools.
• Altogether, more than one ton of the estimated 2.2 tons of mercury in Minnesota schools was removed and recycled through the MPCA’s Mercury-Free Zone Program.
• From 2001 to 2009, 856 Minnesota schools pledged to be mercury-free, 335 schools were assessed, and more than 50,000 students and teachers were educated about the dangers of mercury.
• In addition, 262 schools participated in the Get the Mercury Out Now! effort, resulting in the removal and recycling of about 370 pounds of mercury.

Persons who want more information about the Mercury-Free Zone Program may contact MPCA Mercury Specialist Carol Hubbard at 651-757-2452 or email her at Carol.Hubbard@state.mn.us .