Ten hospitals in U.S.A. agree not to use the mercury clinical thermometer again

Ten hospitals in U.S.A. agree not to use the mercury clinical thermometer again
DC hospitals agree to ban mercury products NEW YORK (Reuters Health) -Ten hospitals in Washington, DC, announced Tuesday that they have taken a pledge to phase out products containing mercury and have agr eed to begin by banning the use of mercury thermometers. The move coincides with a citywide effort to encourage residents of the nation's capital to swap thei r mercury thermometers for free digital replacements. Charlotte Brody, coordinator of the environmental advocacy group Health Care Without Harm, which advocates for the phase-out of mercury-containing products, noted that the DC effort is groundbreaking in scope. "Health Care Without Harm has gotten 600 hospitals and clinics in the United States to take the pledg e to go mercury-free, but we've never had this kind of citywide involvement before," she told Reuters Health. "Mercury-Free DC" was launched at a ceremony at Children's National Medical Center, one of the 10 participants. Also taking the no-mercury pledge were George Washington University Hospital, Hadley Memorial Hospital, Howard University Hospital, Sibley Memorial Hospital, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Washington Hospital Center, Greater Southeast Medical Center, DC General Hospital, and National Rehabilitation Hospital. In related news, Health Care Without Harm awarded 11 of the nation's top retailers and manufacturers its"Mercury in Fl ight" award at an afternoon luncheon in DC. All of the winners, including the nation's No. 1 retailer Wal-Mart Stores, have agreed to either stop selling or manufacturing mercury fever thermometers. Health Care Without Harm was formed 5 years ago with the mission to make healthcare more environmenta lly responsible. Today, the coalition's members represent 290 organizations and 27 countries. In addition to removing mercury thermometers from hospital premises, the 10 participants will encourage staff members to round up old thermometers from their medicine che sts at home. Health Care Without Harm will replace staf f members' mercury-containing thermometers free of charge. In Brody's view, the DC hospital initiative, along with a successful citywide campaign, will produce a big environmental bang. "If we can get 1,000 DC residents to turn in their mercury thermometers, we will have protected a body of water as big as the entire Potomac," she said. Even small amounts of mercury exposure can do great harm. Health Care Without Harm cited a recent study by the National Academy of Sciences National Research C ouncil warning that at least 60,000 babies annually could be at risk for lower IQ and learning disabi lities because their mothers have eaten mercury-contaminated fish and seafood. Under a 1998 memorandum of understanding with the American Hospital Association and the US Environmen tal Protection Agency, healthcare facilities are being encouraged to phase out mercury-containing devices by 2005, Brody noted. Despite the move to digital thermometers, mercury-containing versions can still be found in many hospitals, she said. "They're often given to new parents to take home with their babies." During Saturdays in October, DC residents may turn in their mercury thermometers to any of the city's 33 firehouses and pick up a free digital replacement. The city's schools will be sending notices home with children to explain the thermometer-swap. In addition, the DC Water and Sewer Authority is inserting information about the program in 75,000 water bills to be mailed in the next 4 weeks.

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