Workshop Highlights Need for Mercury-Free Alternatives

Guwahati, Aug 27: A coalition of public health professionals, government representatives, civil society groups, and environmental activists has issued a strong appeal for the complete cessation of mercury-based devices, including thermometers and sphygmomanometers, in India.

This urgent call was made during a workshop hosted by Consumer VOICE, New Delhi, and the Consumers' Legal Protection Forum, Assam, in collaboration with the NERIM Group of Institutes at the NERIM Auditorium. The focus was on the health risks associated with mercury exposure, particularly for children and women, alongside India's obligations under the Minamata Convention on Mercury.

Dr. Gautam Krishna Mishra, Member Secretary of the Assam Pollution Control Board, emphasized the necessity for healthcare facilities across India to adhere to stringent mercury spill management protocols, invest in training, and transition to safer, mercury-free alternatives. He stated, "Responsible management today will safeguard future generations from irreversible damage."

Dr. Mousumi Krishnatreya, Professor and Head of the Community Medicine Department at Nagaon Medical College, highlighted the urgent need to phase out mercury products due to their toxicity and harmful effects on health and the environment. She urged that broken mercury devices be handled and disposed of with utmost caution to mitigate health and environmental risks.

A 2011 study revealed that approximately eight tonnes of mercury were released annually from medical measuring devices in India, with nearly 69% of this attributed to improper disposal of blood pressure measuring devices and the remainder from mercury thermometers.

Dr. Mrinal Haloi, Associate Professor at Gauhati Medical College & Hospital and secretary of the National Medicos Organization, warned that exposure to mercury can adversely affect pregnant women, lactating mothers, and women of childbearing age, potentially harming future generations. He advocated for the elimination of mercury-containing medical devices in favor of non-mercury alternatives, which can save lives and protect the environment.

During the workshop, Prof. (Dr) Sangeeta Tripathi, director of the NERIM Group of Institutions, encouraged students to contribute to a mercury-free planet. She stressed the importance of consumer awareness regarding the safe disposal of mercury products.

Advocate Ajoy Hazarika, secretary of the Consumers' Legal Protection Forum, Assam, noted, "This initiative to raise consumer awareness is crucial not only for the health of our families but also for minimizing the healthcare sector's environmental impact."

Nilanjana Bose from Consumer VOICE, a consumer rights organization based in Delhi, remarked that the healthcare sector is moving towards mercury-free solutions, finding digital products to be both accurate and cost-effective. She urged the public to adopt these safer alternatives.