OAR 581-021-0023
Mercury Elimination Policy
(1)
Definitions:(a)
“Mercury-added instructional material” means an item or product containing intentionally added elemental mercury or mercury compound(s) used for educational purposes.(b)
“Mercury compound” means a substance consisting mercury chemically combined with another element or combinations of elements, e.g. mercury oxide (HgO).(c)
“Elemental mercury” means the silvery-white liquid metal with atomic number of 80 and an atomic mass of 200.57 represented by chemical symbol Hg.(2)
All Oregon school districts must:(a)
Prohibit the purchase of elemental mercury, mercury compounds and mercury-added instructional materials;(b)
Eliminate all elemental mercury and mercury compounds that are maintained for education purposes, for example, vials of liquid mercury and samples of mercury compounds contained in chemistry class;(c)
Eliminate the use of mercury-added instructional materials; and(d)
Eliminate the use of items and products containing elemental mercury or mercury compounds, as those items and products are replaced at the end of their normal useful lives with cost-effective mercury-free alternatives.(3)
As instructional materials, items and products containing elemental mercury and mercury compounds are replaced; school districts should work with the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality in the proper disposal of materials, items and products.
Source:
Rule 581-021-0023 — Mercury Elimination Policy, https://secure.sos.state.or.us/oard/view.action?ruleNumber=581-021-0023
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