DOH orders phase out of highly toxic mercury devices in hospitals

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Health (DOH) has ordered the gradual phase out of devices containing mercury in all health care facilities, saying that the substance is “highly toxic” especially when metabolized into methyl mercury.

In an administrative order, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III has given all hospitals, infirmaries, birthing homes and clinics two years to switch to alternative instruments.

Duque explained, “mercury is a naturally occurring heavy metal. At ambient temperature and pressure, mercury is a silvery-white liquid that readily vaporizes and may stay in the atmosphere for up to a year.”

When released to the air in case of a breakage or leakage, mercury is transported and deposited globally.

He noted that mercury accumulates ultimately in lake bottom sediments where it is transformed into its more toxic organic form methyl mercury, which is deposited in fish tissue.

“It may be fatal if inhaled and harmful if absorbed through skin. Around 80 percent of the inhaled mercury vapor is absorbed in the blood through the lungs,” Duque added.

Mercury is harmful to the nervous system, digestive, respiratory, immune systems, kidney and lungs.

Exposure to mercury can cause tremors, impaired vision and hearing, insomnia, paralysis, emotional instability, developmental deficits during fetal development, attention deficit and developmental delays during childhood.

Under Administrative Order 2008-0021, all hospitals were directed to discontinue the distribution of mercury thermometers through the distribution of hospital admission and discharge kits.

New healthcare facilities applying for license to operate are required to submit an inventory of all mercury-containing devices that they will use and a corresponding mercury elimination program.