I'm just so sorry for your trouble, Andrea. I played with a broke thermometer at home on the carpet, pushin the silver around on the patterns...wathchin it stick an break up, kinda fascinatin,
Today , on radio 2 (in England) on the Jeremy Vine program, there was a session on mercury barometers bein banned. In greater Europe there is a big push for the ban on all uses a mercury goin on. I heard a lot a claptrap on the safety a the substance bein spouted by boffins with their heads up their fundaments.
A course the subject peripherally led onta differnt aspects an while I was tryin to get ma head around phonin in , someone phoned in about the flourescent lights and the new eco lights an how there is no provision for safe disposal, etc, an how many thousands a liters a water a broke tube contaminates when dumped inta landfill, not to mention the air we breathe.
I got the distinct impression there is a lot a interest in this subject and for folks in England , this radio hour is quite influential for the general public, an I think it got ol' Jeremy thinkin about what all he's got in his mouth, I kinda heard the wheels turnin.
For folks over here that could find the time to make the effort, it would be well worth the effort to email Jeremy Vine at vine@bbc.co.uk an give that man a lil education, I perdict a special session commin up ( if the BBC don't shut him up,) the man is ripe to know. I ain't so good on the facts an figures but I bet a lotta folks here might be able to flaunt their knowledge to a real good purpose if ya got the energy.
Heck, if it worked out, maybe Russ might want to speak a few words.
Welp, it's worth a shot if ya got the time an energy.