[Phantom Lord]

17 tons of mercury a year?!?!?! How much mercury is in each thermometers? A quarter ounce? Whats that total in thermomerters? Has to be in the TRILLIONS!

Where are they getting this number?

[discostu]

I think it's made up. In my entire life I've only thrown out one thermometer, it got dropped and broke (played with the mercury for a couple of hours, cool stuff). Who throws these things away?

[aruanan]

17 tons of mercury a year?!?!?! How much mercury is in each thermometers? A quarter ounce? Whats that total in thermomerters? Has to be in the TRILLIONS!

If each thermometer had 1/10 oz mercury, 17 tons would be enough to make 5,440,000 thermometers; at 1/4 oz, 2,176,000 thermometers.