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Thursday September 14, 6:06 pm Eastern Time
Albertson's removes mercury thermometers
BOISE, Idaho, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Albertson's Inc (NYSE:ABS - news) said on
Thursday it will remove mercury thermometers from its 2,500 stores located
in 36 states, prompted by concerns about their health risks.
``There was a time when mercury thermometers were all we had,'' said Pam
Powell, Albertson's Group Vice President Marketing, adding, that ``now we
have options...that are economically feasible, effective and environmentally
friendly.''
Albertson said its decision was prompted by a coalition called Health Care
Without Harm, a collaborative campaign of 270 organizations in 24 different
countries working to eliminate pollution from health care practices without
compromising safety or patient care.
``Many consumers don't realise that mercury is a neurotoxin, which means it
can affect how a person walks, talks, sees or thinks,'' said Jamie Harvie,
coordinator of the group's campaign to banish mercury from health care.
Harvie said mercury thermometers are the largest source of mercury in the
solid waste stream and that even small amounts of mercury can do significant
damage.
What's more, poison control centers field about 18,000 phone calls every
year about broken mercury thermometers.
Along with pulling mercury thermometers from their shelves, Albertson said
it run an ad campaign about the thermometers' health risks was encouraging
customers to dispose of them at hazardous waste collection facilities.
--
Stephanie C. Davis - BFA, MPA
Experienced Professional of Healthcare &
Non-Residential Waste Programs
Waste Reduction Remedies sm
A Multi-Waste Stream, Multi-Material
Waste Management Company
1497 Hopkins Street #2D Berkeley CA 94702-1201
Telephone & Fax: 510/527-8864 Pacific Time
E-mail: ScD18@WasteReductionRemedies.com
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