Mercury pollution is a severe global environmental and human health problem. The spread – and use – of mercury undermines efforts to improve health conditions in communities.
Many instruments used in hospitals, healthcare facilities and laboratories contain mercury. The substance is commonly found in thermometers, and blood pressure measuring device. Tools used in construction and the households such as thermostats, pressure gauges, and switches may also contain mercury.
Mercury may be released from these and other similar products, as no device is 100% failure-proof.
Substances such as fixatives, preservatives, lab chemicals, cleaners, and other products may have mercury added deliberately. When discarded inappropriately, mercury always contaminates the environment.
- Toxins with an especially heavy impact on the healthcare sector may be found in:
- Dioxin-containing byproducts
- Mercury-containing medical devices and wastes
- Cleaners, disinfectants, pesticides, and fragrance chemicals
- Electronic equipment
- Flame retardants
- PVC, Phthalates and DEHP
Emerging scientific research is raising the level of concern about the health impacts of chronic chemical exposure. We now know that:
Even small doses of chemicals can cause disease — interfering with sexual development, disrupting hormones and causing cancer at very low levels.
Children and developing babies are most vulnerable.
Hundreds of synthetic chemicals are found in human breast milk and in the cord blood of babies in the womb.
Chemicals can act like drugs in our body, disrupting systems at low levels of exposure, and potentially causing harm in combination. As chemical use has grown in industrialized societies, so have chemical-related diseases, including cancer, asthma, birth defects, developmental disabilities, autism, endometriosis and infertility. Mounting scientific evidence links the incidence of these diseases in part to environmental toxicants.
Due to these trends, Health Care Without Harm is working with healthcare institutions around the world to reduce their use of hazardous chemicals and products, and to implement policies that drive the market toward safer alternatives.
Discarding mercury quickly, without inappropriate processing, provides only temporary peace of mind. We may not see it, but the hazards are definitely present. At room temperature, significant amounts of mercury can turn into gas.
Exposed workers or patients may get exposed to highly toxic fumes.
Discarded mercury pollutes the global environment, affecting bodies of water and the organisms inhabiting them. Mercury that contaminates bodies of water and moist earth will turn into highly toxic organic mercury. Even small amount of this substance will harm the brain, and the rest of the nervous system. Organic mercury also accumulates in the bodies of exposed animals.
Healthcare is a considerable source of mercury pollution. The United Nations Environment Program identifies certain healthcare-related products and procedures as "important sources of anthropogenic releases" of mercury. These include fluorescent lamps, manometers, thermometers, and other instruments; dental amalgam fillings; waste treatment and incineration of products containing mercury; landfills; and cremation.
Other sources of mercury pollution include coal emissions from plant emissions, mercury cell chlor-alkali processing facilities, along with artisanal and industrial gold mining.
The World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) both recognize that mercury is a serious global environmental and human health problem.
The UNEP Governing Council, representing all UN represented countries, made reducing methyl mercury accumulation in the global environment a major global priority - hyperlink.
Fortunately, there are safe, cost-effective non-mercury alternatives - hyperlink for nearly all healthcare processes that use the harmful element. The WHO and Health Care Without Harm have launched a global initiative - hyperlink to eliminate most mercury usage in healthcare within a decade.
Global Mercury Campaign / Model Policies
Health Care Without Harm and the World Health Organization are co-leading a global initiative - hyperlink to replace most mercury-based thermometers and sphygmomanometers over the next decade. The organizations are also proposing safe, accurate, and economically viable alternatives for mercury-based medical devices.
The initiative is based on a 2005 WHO policy paper - hyperlinl calling for short, medium and long-term steps towards the gradual substitution of mercury-based medical devices. The policy paper was grounded in Health Care Without Harm's over ten years of experience working with the healthcare sector, national governments and intergovernmental organizations around the world to implement mercury substitution.
The campaign is also a component of the UN Environment Program's (UNEP) Mercury Products Partnership - hyperlink, which is led by the US Environmental Protection Agency. This broadened UNEP Products Partnership seeks actions to eliminate mercury in everyday products such as batteries, lighting fixtures, electrical and electronic devices, dental products, and measuring and control devices.
With specific regard to the WHO/HCWH Health Care initiative, the Products Partnership has set the following objectives:
- Diminish the demand for mercury-containing fever thermometers and sphygmomanometers by at least 70% by 2017.
- Shift the production of all mercury-containing fever thermometers and sphygmomanometers to accurate, affordable, and safer non-mercury alternatives.
The UNEP Products Partnership is in turn part of a larger global effort to address the toxic environmental and health impacts of mercury pollution. This effort consists of a series of other voluntary partnerships in areas of major mercury emissions such as chlor-alkali production, artisanal gold mining, coal-fired power plants, and mercury waste management.
UNEP has also been tasked by the world's governments to explore the establishment of an international, legally-binding agreement to address mercury pollution - link.
For more information on the global initiative, go to: http://www.mercuryfreehealthcare.org.
Global Policies
•The World Health Organization issued a policy paper (pdf) in 2005 calling for short, medium and long-term measures to substitute mercury-based medical devices with safer alternatives.
•The World Medical Association passed a resolution (pdf) in 2008 calling for the substitution of mercury-based medical devices with safer alternatives.
National Policies
•The Philippine Department of Health (DOH) issued Administrative Order 2008-0021 (pdf) in 2008 calling for the phase-out of mercury based medical devices across the country by 2010.
•The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) revised its accreditation policy and ordered non-accreditation of non mercury-free hospitals.
•The Philippine Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) issued Memorandum Circular 2010-140 (pdf) enjoining all provincial governors, city mayors, municipal mayors, DILG regional directors, and other concerned, to ensure compliance to the Department of Health AO 21 mandating gradual phase-out of mercury-containing devices in all Philippine healthcare facilities and institutions.
•Taiwan bans mercury thermometers (pdf).
Large City Policies
•The city government of Delhi, India, is developing a plan to phase out mercury-based medical devices (pdf) in hospitals under its jurisdiction.
Hospitals and Health Care Systems
A growing number of hospitals in developing countries are moving toward mercury free healthcare:
•In the Philippines, more than 600 hospitals are moving toward mercury free healthcare.
•Fifteen hospitals, three medical universities, two non-government organizations, a national medical association, and a local and environment and natural resources office have signed HCWH-SEA Mercury Watch Campaign for 2010 mercury-free Philippines healthcare. The support statement is also demanding the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to provide storage for the mercury-containing devices that will be taken out of the hospitals.
•Two hospitals in China are taking the first steps toward mercury substitution in their country.
•In India more than a dozen hospitals have piloted mercury free healthcare.
For More Information see the Global Movement for Mercury-Free Health Care.
Mercury-Free Alternatives
Some medical professionals still consider mercury-based devices such as thermometers and blood pressure measuring device to be more accurate than their digital counterparts. This is in light of peer-reviewed studies that show the mercury bias to have no real scientific bearing.
The mercury-filled glass thermometer, though easily and frequently broken, is one of the simplest and most widely used diagnostic tools. Because of this, it was the first clinical mercury device to be evaluated for accuracy in comparison to a growing number of available alternatives.
After some debate in the 90s, Leick-Rude and Bloom, during routine accuracy testing in a study, reported that 25% of the glass/mercury thermometers tested differed from the reference thermometer by more than 0.2 degrees Centigrade. This finding was consistent with the authors' review of prior work. In addition to this, another recent study rejected 28% of glass/mercury thermometers due to inaccuracy.
Digital thermometers, the most commonly used mercury-free temperature measuring device, uses a highlight sensitive thermistor to convert temperature into a known electrical signals. As with most products (both with and without mercury), their accuracy is dependent on manufacturing quality and techniques. Standards organizations such as the ASTM International laid-out protocols that will help the healthcare community spot accurate alternatives. It’s important for the healthcare community and governments to ensure that thermometers are purchased from brands that follow manufacturing standards, and have been independently certified by ASTM or other internationally established standards organizations.
Sphygmomanometers use the most amount of mercury in current medical use. Much like thermometers, mercury-based and non-mercury blood pressure devices provide accurate measurement as long as the instruments are properly calibrated. Studies conclude that whether a sphygmomanometers is digital or not has no real bearing on its accuracy. A study at the Mayo Clinic in the US concluded that aneroid sphygmomanometers provide accurate pressure measurements when a proper maintenance protocol is followed. Maintenance and calibration are key factors that affected the instrument’s accuracy.
Some experts have argued that for accurate blood pressure measurement, the reference device used for calibration must be a mercury-based blood pressure device (with a typical error of + / - 3mm of mercury). But when calibrating a device the error of the reference pressure should be added to the specified accuracy of the instrument under test (+ / - 3 mm Hg), to determine the working accuracy of a calibration set-up.
As a result, when using a manometer (mercury column or aneroid gauge) rated at ±3.0 mm Hg as a reference, one will be able to determine the accuracy of the gauge being tested to only ±6.0 mm Hg. This is outside the range of + / - 5mm typically desired by medical professionals.
Many facilities and device manufacturers use devices (e.g., digital pressure standard) rated at ±0.1 mm Hg. One will be able to determine the accuracy of the gauge being tested to within ±3.1 mm Hg. This has been well documented to be far less than the inter- or intra-provider differences on multiple readings.
A U.S. study from 2003 concluded that "research on sphygmomanometers suggests that there are numerous good alternatives to mercury sphygmomanometers. Aneroid sphygmomanometers are cost competitive, have a long history in the field, and have been found acceptable by many hospitals."
In a UK study, an aneroid device achieved an A grade for both systolic and diastolic pressures and met the requirements of the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation. The conclusion was that the aneroid device could be recommended for use in an adult population.
The UK Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) states that aneroid and mercury sphygmomanometers both need to be checked regularly to avoid errors in blood pressure measurement. The British Hypertension Society recommends testing every six to 12 months.
Frequently lost in the discussion over device accuracy, but equally important, is the issue of measurement technique. A 2002 Working Meeting on blood pressure measurement in the United States highlighted numerous studies that found that basic measurement technique, inappropriate cuff size were providing significant errors in measurement.
Switching to mercury-free sphygmomanometers in clinical settings has not hampered clinical diagnosis and monitoring in Sweden or Brazil. The Swedish government, in fact, has completely eliminated the use of mercury column sphygmomanometers.
After considering the scientific evidence, a report produced in 2005 by the World Health Organization (WHO) department addressing cardiovascular diseases concluded that even in low resource settings, "in light of the toxicity of mercury, it is recommended that mercury blood pressure measuring devices be gradually phased out in favor of affordable, validated, professional electronic devices."
While attempting to substitute mercury-containing sphygmomanometers, several hospitals in developing countries need to avoid digital devices of poor quality. As an attempt to overcome this challenge, HCWH-AP provides information on how to spot devices that meet the criteria of professional organizations such as the British Hypertension Society, the European Hypertension Society and the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation.
The British Hypertension Society (BHS) has created a list of vendors - hyperlink of sphygmomanometers that have met the BHS criteria and are suitable for clinical practice. This information has been posted on their web site.
The above cited WHO report points out that "international protocols for blood pressure measuring device validation have been released by the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation, the British Hypertension Society, and the European Society of Hypertension Working Group on Blood Pressure Measurement."
Many healthcare practitioners are concerned about the availability of alternatives to mercury-based instruments. The fact is, mercury-free thermometers and sphygmomanometers are easily available from major medical equipment suppliers who service both local and global markets.
Affordability remains a large hurdle, especially since some health institutions may not realize that mercury pollution exacts a toll and becomes a financial burden in the long run. It’s the classic case of being pennywise and pound foolish. From a developing economy's perspective, these costs must be taken into account during national strategic planning.
In countries such as the United States, where market demand for mercury alternatives is rising, a mercury-free purchasing policy has become economically sound. In a study done by Kaiser Permanente, the largest not-for-profit Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) in the United States, it was determined that when associated lifecycle costs are included (compliance, liability, training, etc.) the total cost per unit of an aneroid sphygmomanometer is about 1/3 that of a mercury-containing device. Mercury-containing devices are no longer being purchased by Kaiser Permanente.
Yet in the global market, mercury-based medical devices are still significantly less expensive than their digital or aneroid counterparts. In the absence of strict environmental health regulations, and with limited health care budgets, many health care systems and hospitals today still face the challenge of deciding between a mercury device and its alternative. Those facilities with limited budgets have been able to successfully avoid this roadblock through operational strategies.
For example, when planning future budgets, hospitals must count the frequent mercury thermometer breakages as a cost center, while comparing it to the cost-effectiveness of digital options. Frequently, the additive cost is comparable to the replacement cost of the mercury thermometers, as the alternatives are typically more durable.
Mercury waste isn’t like conventional forms of garbage. You can’t just sweep mercury under the carpet, or toss it into the nearest dump. Dispose mercury without proper processing, and you risk having the chemical seep into the surrounding environment. Communities in developing countries face the challenge of dealing with mercury waste, despite the lack of proper infrastructure. Though often ineffective, this mercury is typically expected to be collected, and recycled into new products.
It’s a sharp contrast to most industrialized countries, which have been able to develop policies, regulations and infrastructure to prevent mercury and mercury-containing devices from entering the environment through solid waste and wastewater.
Stopping the spread of mercury
Developed countries such as the United States and the European Union have enacted measures to ban the export of mercury to other countries. In the long term, strategies for controlling the global spread of mercury are essential.
Nations such as Germany, UK, US, Norway and Spain have likewise created storage for phased-out mercury. Such facility is accompanied by guidelines and regulations which conform to the highest and most consolidated experience for mercury storage.
In 2011, WHO issued guidelines for the Replacement of mercury thermometers and sphygmomanometers in healthcare.
For example, a healthcare facility or local health department can develop a program which includes simple onsite storage of mercury containing wastes in sealed steel drums. These drums would likely need to be secured to prevent theft vandalism, and placed on concrete pads in the event of a spill. Such low-tech solutions are used in industrialized countries as well. For instance, the US Department of Defense maintains a supply of elemental mercury in a similar fashion.
Don’t pass the buck
As more and more laws banning mercury product get passed in wealthier countries, these nations face the challenge of getting rid of their existing mercury inventory. Sadly, these stocks are usually sold to Asian countries. This practice will likely add challenges to mercury reduction programs in the region.
This is an alarming trend, and calls for greater controls on trade, including export and import bans on mercury. In the long term, strategies for permanent global solutions to processing mercury waste are essential.
As an alternative, wealthier countries can develop engineered strategies that prevent mercury from entering the waste stream and environment. These strategies do not need to be expensive or require advanced technology.
For example, a healthcare facility or local health department can develop a program which includes simple onsite storage of mercury containing wastes in sealed steel drums. These drums would likely need to be secured to prevent theft of vandalism, and placed on concrete pads in the event of a spill. Such low-tech solutions are used in industrialized countries as well. For instance, the US Department of Defense maintains a supply of elemental mercury in a similar fashion.
Success Stories
Indonesia Nepal Philippines Thailand
HCWH-AP, along with Bali Fokus and the Swedish environmental agency KEMI, is working with the Denpasar municipality to encourage city hospitals to apply a sustainable non-mercury and medical waste-processing program. The municipality recently signed a memorandum of understanding with Bali Fokus and several hospitals to process their medical waste in a non-hazardous manner.
The campaign started with 10 hospitals, including Sanglah General Hospital, Udayana Army Hospital, Bhayangkara Police Hospital, Puri Raharja Hospital, BaliMed Hospital, Indera Hospital, Surya Husada, Bali Royal Hospital, Wangaya, and Puri Bunda Hospital, all in Denpasar.
While some hospitals and other medical facilities still use medical equipment containing mercury, the government had successfully reduced mercury usage in a number of hospitals. The environmental organizations worked hand-in-hand with governments and hospitals. Because of this interaction, more and more healthcare facilities have pledged to phase out mercury.
This is the first initiative to phase-out mercury that the local government has engaged in. Bali Fokus and its counterparts in the program provide intensive training and guidance on the usage of personal protective equipment and standard procedures for managing mercury waste. With the wealth of support and information being passed around, the attitudes towards mercury in Bali are shifting.
Anti-mercury awareness has taken root in the Philippines. It wasn’t always like that, though. Before our anti-mercury campaign started in 2005, the dangers of mercury in healthcare wasn’t that well-known.
All that changed after the first Southeast Asia Conference on Mercury was held in Manila in 2006. The conference brought the issue to light. The gathering was the tipping-point HCWH-AP needed. Due to the convincing facts discussed,
Philippine Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III pledged to author policies that mandate the phasing-out of mercury.
The next year, Philippine Heart Center, together with St. Paul Hospital in Tuguegarao, the Manila Adventist Hospital, and San Juan De Dios Hospital started their own mercury phase-out programs.
In August 11, 2008, Administrative Order 21 of the Department of Health was signed. It ordered the gradual phase-out of all mercury-containing devices in all Philippine hospitals by 2010.
By 2009, more than 50 hospitals had phased-out, or were phasing out, mercury-containing devices in their facilities.
To complement the mercury phase-out, alternatives should be presented. In 2009, the General Appropriations Act allocated Php 13.2 million for the purchase of non-mercury thermometers in government-controlled hospitals. The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) is also doing its part. The group signed a revised accreditation policy that denied accreditation to hospitals that still use mercury.
Thailand
Tools & Resources
Pictures of change: Our public Service Announcements
First, Do No Harm – VJ Judah Paolo opens the call to medical professionals to shun the use of mercury in healthcare.
Make the Switch – VJ Judah Paolo talks about the dangers of mercury in healthcare and the environment.
Have A Heart – Some heartfelt words from actor/director Albert Martinez on how he became part of the campaign to phase-out mercury in healthcare.
General Resources
Dealing With Mercury Spills
Websites
Model Policies
Reports, Articles, and Guides
Local Resources
India
Guidelines issued by India’s Central Government in May 2010 to phase-out mercury containing equipment from all government-run hospitals
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Delhi plan to phase-out mercury based medical devices in hospitals under its jurisdiction
National policy to phase-out mercury thermometers
Elimination of PVC from IV bags in South Korea
Dealing With Mercury Spills
This video on safe disposal of spilled mercury was produced HCWH's Strategic Partner in South Asia, Toxics Link.
Mercury Free Health Care, A WHO-HCWH Global Initiative
UNEP Mercury Programme
Zero Mercury Working Group
WHO Policy on Mercury in Health Care
Argentina: Resolution of the Minister of Health
Buenos Aires: Declaration on Mercury-Free Health Care
European Union: Ban on Sale of Mercury-Measuring Instruments
Johannesburg: Declaration on Mercury-Free Health Care
Manilla: Declaration on Mercury-Free Health Care
New Delhi: Declaration on Mercury-Free Health Care
Philippines: Dept. of Health Administrative Order
Philippines: Dept. Interior and Local Government Memorandum
Reports, Articles, and Guides
Toward the Tipping Point: WHO-HCWH Global Initiative to Substitute Mercury-Based Medical Devices in Health Care. A Two-Year Progress Report
The End of an Era: The Phase Out of Mercury Blood Pressure Devices in the United States
The Global Movement for Mercury-Free Health Care Report
Report of the Southeast Asia Conference on Mercury in Health Care
World Medical Journal article on Mercury-Free Health Care
WHO: Affordable Technology: Blood Pressure Measuring Devices for Low Resource Settings
Lurking Menace: Mercury in the Health-Care Sector
Mercury-Free Blood Pressure Measurement Equipment: Experiences in the Swedish Healthcare Sector
Guide to Mercury-Free Alternatives in Southeast Asia
World Medical Association Statement on Reducing the Global Burden of Mercury