Statement on Thermometer Use in Testing - Exhibit 7
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) received comment letters from other state agencies and testing laboratories stating that non-mercury alternative thermometers cannot fulfill specific testing requirements which meet required test standards and specifications. In addition, several hundred test methods currently exist which involve temperature measurement and the use of liquid-in-glass thermometers that may contain mercury. This is evidenced in the "Selection of Alternatives to Liquid-in-Glass Thermometers." Copies of this publication are available from the Journal of ASTM International at: http://www.astm.org/DIGITAL_LIBRARY/JOURNALS/JAI/PAGES/JAI13404.htm. The NYSDEC cannot make a finding that non-mercury alternatives exist for mercury thermometers (other than body/fever thermometers) because a firm determination has not be made that non-mercury alternative thermometers are available for all testing methods and situations which require temperature measurement.
