The Hindu : New Delhi News : `Capital faces mercury poisoning threat'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jul 02, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

`Capital faces mercury poisoning threat'

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, JULY 1. A gram of mercury disposed of in 20-acre waterway would render the fish there unfit for human consumption. And while that is the worldwide mercury tolerance level, the Capital, according to a conservative estimate, releases 51 kg of mercury through dental practices alone each year.

This has been stated in a report titled `Hospital and dental clinics could be poisoning the communities' released here this week by Toxics Link, a non-government organisation working in the area.

The report complied after surveying the procurement, use and disposal of mercury in the medical sector has studied in depth the "mercury circle'' in five private hospitals in Delhi.

And while Delhiites have remained blissfully unaware of the danger and the excessive mercury spill from hospitals, medical institutions and dental clinics, the problem in the Capital is compounded as the mercury generation sources are scattered and non-regulated. And also there are no laws and guidelines governing the release of mercury and so no one seems accountable.

According to the report, an average-sized hospital can release around 3 kg of elemental mercury in the environment in a year. But among the most dangerous use of mercury, which translates to direct human exposure to mercury, is primarily through dental amalgam.

According to an estimate, as much 9,216 gm of contact amalgam may be generated each year in Delhi. It is estimated that the amount of contact amalgam going into waste each year may range from 4,608 gm and the same amount may be going into drains.

What mercury exposure means for the common man is problems with the kidney, memory lapse, lack of muscle co-ordination, nerve conduction and reduced immune system and also, according to international laws, children, pregnant women, women of child-bearing age and sick persons should not be exposed to mercury.

"Mercury or mercury compounds are found in many instruments regularly used in medical institution such as blood pressure monitors, dental amalgam, thermometers and thermostats. It is also used in patients areas and pathology labs, in clinical procedures and medicines and vaccines,'' explained the director of Toxics Link, Ravi Aggarwal.

"A number of these mercury-containing products become part of the solid waste stream, including certain thermometers, fluorescent lamps, button batteries, thermostats, switches and dental supplies. If these wastes are disposed in regular trash then the mercury can contaminate our environment and endanger our health.

While internationally there is a shift towards mercury free alternatives and strict regulations are in place on mercury emissions, but in India mercury in health care is hardly a concern for either the policy makers or the heath care sector.

"There is an urgent need to put mercury import on the restriction list, ban medical waste incineration and open sale of mercury. Mercury usage needs to be phased out and as an interim measure, the health care staff should be trained to handle this toxic metal safely,'' explained Ratna Singh, of Toxics Link.

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