Experts, consumer groups urge ban on mercury medical devices to safeguard health and environment

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaAugust 23, 2025

Public health experts, government officials, consumer advocates, and environmental groups have called for the urgent elimination of mercury-based medical devices in India, citing serious risks to both human health and the environment.

The appeal was made at a workshop organised by Consumer VOICE (New Delhi) and Consumers’ Legal Protection Forum (Assam) in collaboration with the NERIM Group of Institutes, Guwahati. The event highlighted India’s commitment to the Minamata Convention on Mercury and the need to phase out thermometers, sphygmomanometers, and other mercury-containing equipment.

Dr. Gautam Krishna Mishra, Member Secretary of the Assam Pollution Control Board, stressed the importance of strict protocols for mercury spill management, training for healthcare workers, and investment in mercury-free alternatives. “Responsible handling today will protect future generations from irreversible harm,” he said.

Supporting this, Dr. Mousumi Krishnatreya, Professor and Head of Community Medicine at Nagaon Medical College, emphasised mercury’s toxicity and the dangers of careless disposal. A 2011 study estimated that nearly eight tonnes of mercury are released annually from medical devices in India—69% from blood-pressure instruments and the rest from thermometers.

Dr. Mrinal Haloi, Associate Professor of Forensic Medicine at Gauhati Medical College & Hospital, noted the particular risks to women of childbearing age, warning that exposure could harm future generations. “Switching to non-mercury digital and aneroid equipment is saving lives while protecting the environment,” he said.

Prof. (Dr.) Sangeeta Tripathi, Director of NERIM, appealed to students to lead the movement for a mercury-free planet. Advocate Ajoy Hazarika, Secretary of the Consumers’ Legal Protection Forum, underlined the need for greater consumer awareness on safe disposal, pointing out that this effort protects not just families but the wider environment.

“The healthcare sector is already moving toward accurate and affordable digital alternatives. It’s time the public adopts them too,” said Nilanjana Bose of Consumer VOICE.

The workshop concluded with a consensus that eliminating mercury-based devices is both a public health necessity and an environmental imperative.