The  Liquid Metal
Dear Parent:

      We recently studied the element mercury.  Mercury, also known as
quicksilver, is a liquid metal that can be found in several products at home and
school. We learned that mercury poses very little threat if properly contained in
these products.  However, if mercury breaks free from a product—accidentally or
because of mischievous behavior—people can be exposed to mercury vapors.
Breathing mercury vapors can be hazardous to your health.

      Students are fascinated with mercury and its unique properties. As the
only liquid metal at room temperature, mercury will separate into beads of
various sizes and slide around on a solid surface. Unfortunately, this fascination
has resulted in an increase in the number and severity of mercury spills in recent
years, many of which have happened at schools.  Not only is it expensive to
clean up a mercury spill, these spills have also  placed innocent students at risk of
mercury poisoning.  By increasing awareness of mercury's hazards, we can all
do our part to keep our living spaces free of mercury contamination.

      Our classroom discussions covered the following: 1) how to identify
mercury and products containing mercury;  2) environmental and health hazards
of mercury; 3) steps to follow if a mercury spill occurs; and 4) mercury-free
products that can replace those containing mercury.  Our classroom material
included educational videos and student activities provided to us by the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, some of which your child might have brought
home to you.  I encourage you, in turn, to review that material with your child to
raise your own awareness of mercury.

-------