Warning vs. mercury

MANILA, Philippines – In response to the Department of Health’s move to fast-track the mercury phase-out in the health care sector, environmental health group Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia (HCWH-SEA) recently told the public not to panic.

The group likewise issued guidelines on properly storing mercury in households while awaiting guidelines from DoH.

Since the DoH intensified its call to phase out mercury thermometers and sphygmomanometers and possibly ban its entry to the country, the envi-health group received several calls asking about the disposal of mercury thermometers from households.

“The general public is now aware of the dangers of mercury and everyone wants mercury out of their houses at the soonest possible time,” says Faye Ferrer, HCWH-SEA program officer for Mercury in Health Care.  “We, however, would like to appeal to the public that the best thing to do right now is to keep your existing mercury thermometers in a safe place at home.”

While the health care sector has clear guidelines on how to properly store the phased-out mercury devices, there are no existing guidelines yet on the mercurial devices from households.

DoH issued a statement saying the general public may bring their mercury thermometers to government hospitals and the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB pending the release of the guidelines.

HCWH-SEA is likewise calling on the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to address an intermediate disposal area for the phased-out mercury devices from health care and those from homes.

“Although mercury is the last thing that people would want to keep in their homes, in the absence of a clear option for storage, temporarily keeping it without using it, is by far the best option for now,” Ferrer points out.  “Another, of course, is an immediate ban so that the public can no longer buy mercurial devices.”

Below are guidelines on temporarily storing mercurial thermometers and even mercury-containing batteries at home:

1. Place in clear plastic bag and seal the bag.  Make sure there are no cracks on the thermometers.

2. Mark the bag: MERCURY POISON! DO NOT OPEN!

3. Place the bag in an unbreakable plastic container.

4. Keep in a safe place out of children’s reach.

5. Place container in cool well-ventilated dry place.

6. Remember where you place them.

For spent fluorescent lamps containing mercury:

1. Put in its original box and properly label and seal to prevent leakage in case the lamp breaks.  Or better yet, place it in a storage where it will not fall or tip over.  Store it in a cool dry place.

2. In case the lamp breaks, do not use vacuum cleaner.  Instead, place the broken glass in a closed container.

3. Remember that it is best to just keep the spent fluorescent lamp safely stored in your home than to dispose it through garbage trucks. Sadly, we still do not have the capacity to safely recycle fluorescent lamps.

In cases of small mercury spills:

1. Evacuate the area. Open all windows to air the place and turn off interior ventilation system to avoid dispersing mercury vapor.

2. Wear protective face mask.

3. Wear clothes and shoes that may be discarded when contaminated.

4. Remove jewelry so that it will not combine with the mercury.

5. Wear rubber or latex gloves. Place broken objects on a paper towel then onto a lock bag, properly labeled.

6. Identify the surface. Wood, linoleum, and tiles may be easily cleaned while carpets, curtains, and upholstery should be immediately disposed.

7. Locate mercury beads. Carefully gather them together using a cardboard.

8. Use eyedropper and sticky tape to pick up the beads and then transfer them to an airtight-lid plastic container.  Put in a zip-lock bag, properly labeled.

9. Put all cleanup gloves and clothing in a leak-proof bag.

10. Contact hospitals for advice on final disposal.

11. Keep the area ventilated from the outside for at least 24 hours after the successful clean-up.

Total banning of mercurial devices remains the best option.

According to Ferrer, if we are to stop importing mercury devices, then it will be so much easier for the health department to control and prevent mercury pollution and poisoning.

The group is positive that banning is on the horizon.

Earlier the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned 12 mercury-laced products.  DoH Secretary Esperanza Cabral likewise signed the Green Health Covenant (http://GreenHealthCovenant.multiply.com) pledging to encourage candidates to be supportive of a mercury-free Philippines and other green health care agenda.

In a span of less than two months, the Covenant gathered more than 1,000 signatures from health care facilities in Regions 1, 2, 4 A and 7.

HCWH is an international coalition of more than 470 organizations in 52 countries, working to transform the health care sector worldwide, without compromising patient safety or care, so that it is ecologically sustainable and no longer a source of harm to public health and the environment. For more information on HCWH-SEA, see www.noharm.org.ph.