(410 ILCS 46/5)

Sec. 5. Findings.

(a) The General Assembly finds:

(1) that human exposure to mercury can result in adverse health effects, and mercury pollutants have been linked to nervous system, kidney, and liver damage and impaired childhood development;

(2) that mercury fever thermometers are easily broken, creating a potential risk of dangerous exposure to mercury vapor in indoor air and risking mercury contamination of the environment;

(3) that accidental mercury spills and thermometer breakages have proven costly to clean up;

(4) that according to the Mercury Study Report, prepared by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and submitted to the U.S. Congress in 1997, mercury fever thermometers contribute approximately 17 tons of mercury to solid waste each year;

(5) that according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the quantity of mercury in one mercury fever thermometer, approximately one gram, is enough to contaminate all fish in a lake with a surface area of 20 acres;

(6) that accurate and safe alternatives to mercury thermometers are readily available and comparable in cost; and

(7) that many national pharmacy and retail chains have discontinued the sale of mercury thermometers to consumers.

(b) It is the purpose of this Act to prohibit the sale, distribution, or promotional gifts of mercury fever thermometers in this State.

(Source: P.A. 93-165, eff. 1-1-04.)