There are alternatives to mercury, according to a just-released preliminary assessment of the uses of elemental mercury in a number of products. The EPA released a report Thursday that suggests switches, relays, button cell batteries, non-fever thermometers, and measuring devices, such as thermostats, don't have to contain mercury.

Under the Chemical Assessment and Management Program, the EPA evaluated the use of elemental mercury in certain products and the availability of effective, economical mercury-free alternatives. The assessment determined that the use of mercury in certain products poses a "high-priority, special concern." The agency said in a press release it plans to take prompt regulatory and voluntary action to encourage the use of mercury-free alternatives and reduce the use of mercury in products.

The agency also announced a searchable database that pulls together publicly available information from various sources to help identify consumer and commercial products that contain mercury and their possible non-mercury alternatives.

More information on the mercury assessment: http://www.epa.gov/chemrtk/hpvis/index.html

More information on the database: http://www.epa.gov/mercury/database.htm