Thirty-six of those contacted recommended tossing the thermometer out with the trash; 19 suggested taking the device to a specific site, such as a hazardous waste center, and 19 said they didn't know and suggested calling someone else, the report said.

The correct response, it said, should be to treat the devices as hazardous waste.

"With the (Pediatrics Academy) encouraging the phase-out of mercury-based thermometers, health care professionals must be aware of proper disposal technique," said the report, published in the May issue of the academy's journal, "Pediatrics."

"Unfortunately, although most of the health care system and the environment community believes that mercury should not be released into the environment for fear it will damage both the wildlife and eventually humans, as seen in our survey, no uniform advice is offered by county and local health departments, county hazardous waste facilities, and recycling centers," it added.

"A uniform approach to disposal of all mercury-containing products must occur if there is to be an effective way to keep mercury out of the environment. We encourage those wishing to dispose of mercury thermometers to contact their local community to determine what agency is responsible for disposal of hazardous material in that municipality" it added.