Mercury Removal Initiative /

In 2006, ASTM president James Thomas received letters from State administrations petitioning the reevaluation of standards that include the instrumentation and reference to mercury. ASTM technical committee E20 on Temperature Measurement has created a task group to provide guidance to the committees affected by this initiative. In addition, ASTM staff has been in communication with other organizations as a resource for information on the industries approach to the removal of mercury.

Last February, ASTM met in conjunction with the EPA, NIST, NEWMOA, ECOS, Quicksilver Caucus and laboratories in order to develop a strategy for phasing out the use of mercury filled thermometers, including long-term and short-term efforts. Items discussed were the current state regulations, laboratory usage and risks, viable alternatives and benefits as well as summaries on standards organizations involvement and efforts.

Some initial and ongoing goals were able to be derived from this meeting. ASTM has committed to providing information about the committees and standards affected. Along with this information, ASTM encouraged the stakeholders involved to join the affected committees and actively participate in changing the standards in accordance with our consensus process. Multiple divisions of the EPA have agreed to continue researching to determine where continued usage of mercury still exists.

With continued research of standards organizations documents, the guidance of NIST on alternatives to liquid-in-glass thermometers, and the assistance of ASTM technical committee E20, this initiative may be well on its way to developing some long term goals.

If you should need further information in regards to this project, you may contact Staff Manager Christine DeJong at cdejong@astm.org. If you wish to join ASTM technical committees please visit www.astm.org/member. To see the list of committees and standards involved, click on the appropriate links below.