Phase out medical tools that use mercury, says CAP

Star: PENANG: Medical instruments using mercury should be phased out as the risks posed are “very serious,” according to the Consumers Association of Penang (CAP).
Its president S.M. Mohamed Idris said CAP would submit a paper to the Health Ministry to consider phasing out products using mercury such as thermometers, laboratory chemicals, blood pressure monitors and even dental fillings in the next three years.
“The Government needs to step in to encourage usage of mercury-free alternatives,” he said after the opening of the Conference on Alternatives to Mercury in Healthcare.
State Health, Welfare and Caring Society Committee chairman P.K. Subbaiyah opened the one-day conference attended by about 150 representatives from the Government, medical and dental associations, hospitals, medical waste managers and non-governmental organisations as well as academicians.
Mohamed Idris said that in Malaysia a dental amalgam that has about 50% mercury was identified as an intentionally used mercury-containing product.
“Exposure to mercury vapour could occur during placement and removal of the mercury-containing dental amalgams.
“Mercury-free alternatives to amalgam are making inroads in reducing the risk of mercury contamination in patients and Malaysia should move towards these alternatives,” he said.
Subbaiyah said that according to the World Health Organisation, healthcare institutions were one of the major sources of mercury releases into the atmosphere.
“When medical products containing mercury are improperly disposed of or incinerated, the highly toxic mercury is released into the environment,” he said.