WHO calls for the phase out of mercury fever thermometers and blood pressure measuring devices by 2020

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​​11 October 2013 | Geneva - 
WHO and Health Care without Harm ​have joined forces to launch a new initiative to get mercury removed from all medical measuring devices by 2020.

​The initiative Mercury-Free Healthcare by 2020, launched today to mark the signing of the Minamata Convention on Mercury, calls for the phase out of mercury fever thermometers and blood pressure devices containing mercury. This will be done by ending the manufacture, import and export of these devices and by supporting the deployment of accurate, affordable, and safer non-mercury alternatives.

​The Convention provides a blueprint for country action to eliminate the most harmful forms of mercury use, reduce mercury emissions from industry, promote mercury free methods, protect children and women of childbearing age from mercury exposure, and take steps to improve workers health and well-being.

“WHO will tackle the critical areas of concern of mercury exposure and we will work with governments to ensure that they can meet their obligations under the Convention, especially those in the areas of healthcare,” says Dr Maria Neira, WHO Director for Public Health and Environment. “This calls for the phase out of mercury fever thermometers and sphygmomanometers (a device for measuring blood pressure) in health care under the Mercury-Free Healthcare by 2020.”
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WHO and its health sector partners will furthermore work to:

• phase out mercury topical antiseptics and mercury skin-lightening cosmetics;
• develop public health strategies to address the health impacts of mercury use in artisanal and small-scale gold mining;
• develop measures to “phase down” the use of dental amalgam;
• encourage health information exchange, public awareness-raising and health research.

"Mercury and its various compounds are of global public health concern and have a range of serious health impacts including brain and neurological damage especially among the young. Others include kidney damage and damage to the digestive system."
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