Is Mercury in Your Home?
Mercury Containing Products Commonly Found in Homes
Effective January 1, 2003, the California Mercury Reduction Act banned the sale of many products containing mercury. Even though they are banned from California’s marketplace, these mercury containing products still are frequently found in homes.
- Thermometers
- Thermostats
- Button Cell Batteries
- Fluorescent light bulbs (tubes and CFLs)
- Mercury switches (in automobiles and appliances)
- Barometers
- Blood pressure gauges
- Mercury-Added Novelties. This category includes practical jokes items, figurines, jewelry, toys, games, cards, ornaments, yard statues, and figures, candles, holiday decorations, and foot-wear that contain mercury or mercury batteries. Effective January 1, 2003, the California Mercury Reduction Act banned sale of mercury-added novelties in this state, but some people still have them in their homes.
- Some cosmetics (e.g. skin lightening creams)
- Banned pesticides and latex paint
How Do You Know if a Product Contains Mercury?
Look for the mercury symbol, Hg, on the product or product packaging, such as fluorescent lamps. Some products, such as cosmetics, may actually list mercury in their ingredients label. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has banned mercury from cosmetics except for products intended to be used around the eyes.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) helps identify products containing mercury. Visit:
Mercury in Products Links
Toxics in Products Links
- Toxics in Products Home
- Cadmium in Jewelry
- Lead and Arsenic in Glass Beads
- Lead in Jewelry
- Lead in Plumbing
- Mercury Reduction in Products & Devices
- Recycling Mercury Thermostats
- Restrictions on the use of Certain Hazardous Substances (RoHS) in Electronic Devices
- Toxics in Packaging
- Toxics Reduction in Lighting
- Treated Wood Waste