Healing Garden Grows in Bhopal
The story of the Sambhavna Clinic, a non-profit holistic health clinic in Bhopal, India, built to treat those injured by the Union Carbide toxic gas release in 1984. enlarge video
The story of the Sambhavna Clinic, a non-profit holistic health clinic in Bhopal, India, built to treat those injured by the Union Carbide toxic gas release in 1984. enlarge video
Environmental Health News
January 16, 2013, The Himalayan Times
Government Warns Hospitals to Strictly Manage Waste
Excerpt: "Kathmandu government has warned that it would shut hospitals failing to set up waste treatment plant in accordance with the existing laws." more
December 7, 2012,
The Greatest Threat to Public Health
Excerpt: "HCWH partner organization, groundWork, staffer Rico Euripidou discusses the impacts of climate change on health. He examines the local and global health impacts of burning coal for energy production in South Africa. More: to update link / article on hcwh web." moreNovember 1, 2012, WHO
Atlas of Health and Climate Launches New Collaboration Between Public Health and Meteorological Communities
Excerpt: "As the world’s climate continues to change, hazards to human health are increasing. The Atlas of health and climate, published today jointly by WHO and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), illustrates some of the most pressing current and emerging challenges." moreOctober 30, 2012, Climate and Health Alliance
Global: Inaction on Climate Change a Leading Cause of Deaths
Excerpt: "A failure to act on climate change is costing the global economy $1.2 trillion annually and is responsible for 400,000 deaths each year, a new report commissioned by 20 governments has found." moreOctober 3, 2012, groundWork
By Rico Euripidou
By Rico Euripidou
Health Workers Learn of Chemical Hazards
Excerpt: "HCWH partner organization, groundWork, has endeavored to work with health practitioners to get them to understand chemical exposure in their patients as possibly arising from the work environment. Overall, 289 clinical health care and environmental health workers in Durban, South Africa, have been trained." moreSeptember 5, 2012,
UN Report: Urgent Action Needed to Reduce Growing Health and Environmental Hazards from Chemicals
Excerpt: "Chemical 'intensification' of economies in developing countries means greater risk of exposure to hazardous substances new study shows sound management of chemicals can deliver major economic benefits and support green economy." moreAugust 22, 2012, The Sydney Morning Herald
By Mark Metherell
By Mark Metherell
Hospitals Act to Cut Dangerous Waste
Excerpt: "Australia's hospitals are joining the Global Green and Healthy Hospitals, a worldwide initiative to bring together hospitals, health systems and health organizations to reduce their environmental footprint and promote public environmental health." moreJuly 20, 2012, The Guardian, Nigeria
By FADERERA FALADE
By FADERERA FALADE
Lagos State Official Calls for Mercury Phase-out in Health Sector
Excerpt: "Environmentalists and experts have called on the Lagos Federal government to ban the use of mercury containing devices and promote free alternatives in medical centres." moreJuly 18, 2012,
New Movie: The Story of Change
Excerpt: "Annie Leonard, from the Story of Stuff, released The Story of Change movie, which argues that citizens – not shoppers – hold the key to a better future." moreApril 25, 2012, VietNam News
Medical Waste Improvement Project Kicks Off in Ha Noi
Excerpt: "A US$155 million hospital waste water treatment project was kicked off yesterday by the Ministry of Health and financed by the World Bank in Ha Noi. The project aims to minimise environmental pollution due to medical waste from hospitals in order to improve people’s health." moreApril 23, 2012, The Jakarta Post
By Luh De Suriyani
By Luh De Suriyani
Major Hospitals Commit to Reduce Mercury Waste
Excerpt: "Denpasar municipality is currently working in cooperation with Health Care Without Harm Southeast Asia, Bali Fokus, and the Swedish environmental agency, KEMI, to encourage the city hospitals to apply a sustainable nonmercury and medical waste processing program." moreApril 23, 2012, Plastics Today
By Doug Smock
By Doug Smock
Shift Out of PVC Relies on Proprietary Welding Process
Excerpt: "At the heart of a potentially large-scale shift away from PVC in medical applications is a highly proprietary technology that makes it possible to inexpensively weld very thin gauge polyolefin elastomers." moreApril 12, 2012, Taiwan Today
Taiwan Takes Part in Global Call For Green Health Care
Excerpt: "Representatives of hospitals in Taiwan and several other countries urged health care organizations around the world to work together and promote environmentally healthy hospitals at a ceremony April 11 in Taipei City. The event was jointly sponsored by the ROC Department of Health Bureau of Health Promotion, International Network of Health Promoting Hospitals and Health Services, and international coalition Health Care Without Harm." moreApril 4, 2012, Mercury Free Health Care
Assessment Meeting of Mercury-containing Medical Devices Substitution Pilot Project
Excerpt: "On March 23 an assessment meeting for Qinhuangdao Maternity and Child Health Hospital’s mercury-containing medical devices substitution pilot project was held in Qinhuangdao City." moreJanuary 17, 2012, The Tribune
Shun the use of mercury-based instruments, advocates PPCB
Excerpt: "The Punjab Pollution Control Board in association with the Indian Medical Association and Toxics Link, New Delhi, organised a workshop on the hazards of mercury at Dumra Auditorium, Dayanad Medical College here today. It stressed the need for replacing mercury-equipped instruments with aneroid-based instrument." moreNovember 15, 2011, New York Times
By Paul Vitello
By Paul Vitello
Dr. Paul Epstein, Climate and Health Leader, Is Dead at 67
Excerpt: "Dr. Paul Epstein, a public health expert who was among the first to warn of a link between the spread of infectious disease and extreme weather events, adding a new dimension to research into the potential impact of global climate change, died on Sunday at his home in Boston. He was 67." moreOctober 22, 2011, Science Daily
Pollutants Linked to 450 Percent Increase in Risk of Birth Defects in Rural China
Excerpt: "Two of the pesticides found in high concentrations in the placentas of affected newborns and stillborn fetuses were endosulfan and lindane." moreOctober 4, 2011, The Times of India
Burning Medical Waste Pollutes Environment
Excerpt: "The medical waste being burnt in an improper manner at Lala Lajpat Rai Hospital on Friday afternoon led to suffocation in many wards." moreSeptember 30, 2011,
Qinhuangdao Maternal and Child Health Hospital Launches Pilot Project to Eliminate Mercury-Containing Medical Devices
Excerpt: "On September 13th, 2011, the Qinhuangdao Maternal and Child Health Hospital launched pilot project on eliminating mercury-containing medical devices in Hebei Province." moreSeptember 15, 2011, IBN Live
PPCB Advises Doctors to Replace Mercury-based Equipment
Excerpt: "Collaborating with HCWH's India Partner, Toxics Link, the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) Chairman K S Pannu has asked doctors to replace mercury-based medical equipment with non-mercury devices." moreAugust 26, 2011, Express India
By Jayant Sriram
By Jayant Sriram
A Year After Ban, 60 City Hospitals Are Mercury-free
Excerpt: "In 2010, the Delhi government issued a stricture to ban the use of mercury-based instruments in hospitals. Presently and after a year ban, more than 60 hospitals are already mercury-free and, hospitals that have not phased it out, have at stopped buying new mercury-based instruments." moreJuly 27, 2011, WHO Europe
Climate Change: Protecting Health During Heat-waves
Excerpt: "Heat-waves of long duration and high intensity have the highest impact on mortality. WHO/Europe’s revised its information package with public health advice on heat-waves for the general public, medical professionals and health services." moreJuly 20, 2011, Science Daily
Environmental Pollutants Lurk Long After They 'Disappear'
Excerpt: "The health implications of polluting the environment weigh increasingly on our public consciousness, and pharmaceutical wastes continue to be a main culprit. Now a Tel Aviv University researcher says that current testing for these dangerous contaminants isn't going far enough." moreJuly 18, 2011, Kathmandu Post
By Nirjana Sharma
By Nirjana Sharma
Bir Hospital Sets Example in Medical Waste Management
Excerpt: "Bir Hospital, in a bid to set an example in medical waste management by managing highly infected waste piled up inside hospital premises, and in cooperation with Health Care Foundation-Nepal launched the medical waste management programme which helps maintaining cleanliness and hygiene." moreJuly 11, 2011, Jakarta Post
By Desy Nurhayati
By Desy Nurhayati
Hospitals Told to Phase Out Mercury Use
Excerpt: "Hospitals have been advised to apply proper procedures in handling mercury waste and gradually replace health equipment containing mercury." moreMay 20, 2011, WHO Report
New WHO Release: Persistent Organic Pollutants: Impact on Child Health
Excerpt: "This document is designed to inform and educate health professionals about persistent organic pollutants and their potential impact on child health and development." moreMay 9, 2011, Himalayan News Service
Replace Mercury Thermometers
Excerpt: "Health Care Foundation Nepal (HECAF) has asked the Ministry of Health and Population to replace mercury thermometers nationwide, shortly after they replaced mercury thermometers with digital ones at Bir Hospital." moreApril 12, 2011,
Hospitals and NGOs Carry Out Joint Workshop on the Risks of Mercury Pollution in the Health Care Sector
Excerpt: "Global Village of Beijing, in cooperation with Sino–Union Create held the first joint workshop between healthcare sectors. Participants shared their experiences on environmental protection, proposed the substitution of mercury-based medical devices and discussed future actions to eliminate mercury from the health care sector." moreApril 11, 2011, Mercury Free Health Care
Mongolia Issues National Policy to Ban Mercury Medical Devices
Excerpt: "The Ministry of Health and the National Emergency Management Agency of Mongolia have issued a Joint Order to ban further procurement of the mercury containing thermometer, sphygmomanometer and dental amalgam, beginning January 15, 2011 and to authorize its replacement with mercury-free alternatives." moreApril 7, 2011, Mercury Free Health Care
Chile: Ministry of Health Issues National Guidance for Mercury-free Health Care
Excerpt: "With 27 hospitals already substituting mercury-based medical devices as part of the Mercury-Free Hospitals Project, Chile's Ministry of Health has moved toward a national substitution policy." moreMarch 23, 2011, Manila Standard Today
By Adelle Chua
By Adelle Chua
Becoming Mercury-free
Excerpt: "The focus of this year’s Asian Regional Conference on Mercury-Free Health Care meeting has been about how alternatives to mercury devices are being introduced, how people receive these alternatives, as well as how the phased-out devices would be stored in the short and long term." moreMarch 15, 2011, The Star Online
By Lester Kong
By Lester Kong
Ban on BPA Milk Bottles
Excerpt: "Polycarbonate infant milk bottles containing the chemical Bisphenol A (BPA) will be outlawed in Malaysia from March 1 next year." moreMarch 5, 2011, Shanghai Daily
By Lu Feiran
By Lu Feiran
China to Ban Plastic Bottles to Feed Babies
Excerpt: "Baby feeding bottles containing Bisphenol A (BPA) are to be banned, China's Ministry of Health said. The ministry has drafted a regulation for public comment but it didn't say when the draft will come into force. The regulation bans BPA from anything used to contain food or drink for children." moreFebruary 28, 2011, The Peninsula Qatar
Guidelines Issued on Hazardous Waste Management
Excerpt: "The Ministry of Environment yesterday issued the first reference guide for management of medical waste in Qatar." moreJanuary 17, 2011, www.mercuryfreehealthcare.org
São Paulo and Santa Catarina States Phasing–out Mercury Medical Devices
Excerpt: "The Health Secretariat of São Paulo State has banned the purchase of any equipment containing mercury in hospitals and other health services. In Santa Catarina State mercury thermometers are now banned in hospital systems and pharmacies." moreDecember 30, 2010, Jerusalem Post
By Judy Siegel-Itzkovich
By Judy Siegel-Itzkovich
Hospitals Told to Stop Using Baby Bottles Containing BPA
Excerpt: "After July 1 hospitals will no longer feed formula to infants using bottles made from polycarbonate plastics, which contain the compound bisphenol A." moreDecember 14, 2010, IPSNews
By Ranjit Devraj
By Ranjit Devraj
Waste-to-Energy Plants Face Public Heat
Excerpt: "A plan to establish waste-to-energy plants in New Delhi as part of a carbon-trading programme has run into fierce opposition over hazards posed by toxic chemical byproducts." moreDecember 12, 2010, Journal of Public Health Policy
By Susan Buchanana, Peter Orris and Joshua Karliner
By Susan Buchanana, Peter Orris and Joshua Karliner
Alternatives to the Mercury Sphygmomanometer
Excerpt: "A new article in the Journal of Public Health Policy evaluates the accuracy of mercury, aneroid, and oscillometric blood pressure devices. The article also outlines the problems caused by mercury to human health and the environment while depicting international efforts to substitute mercury-based medical devices with less toxic alternatives." moreDecember 10, 2010, EcoWaste Coalition
Greens Call on the Commission on Human Rights to Affirm Chemical Safety as a Basic Human Right
Excerpt: "The EcoWaste Coalition, a waste and pollution watchdog, staged the first ever "Human Rights Day March for Chemical Safety" with an urgent plea to the Commission on Human Rights to uphold the Filipino’s right to be protected against harmful chemicals." moreDecember 10, 2010, Daily Mail Online
By David Derbyshire
By David Derbyshire
"Climate Change Could Give You Cancer": UN Report Warns of Deadly Pollutants From Glaciers
Excerpt: "Melting glaciers and ice sheets are releasing cancer-causing pollutants into the air and oceans, scientists say." moreDecember 6, 2010, University of Copenhagen, Department of Chemistry
By Jes Andersen
By Jes Andersen
Anesthetic Gasses Have Significant Global Warming Potential
Excerpt: "When doctors want their patients asleep during surgery they gently turn the gas tap. But Anaesthetic gasses have a global warming potential as high as a refrigerant that is on its way to be banned in the EU." moreDecember 3, 2010, The Wall Streen Journal
By Geeta Anand and Arlene Chang
By Geeta Anand and Arlene Chang
Dow Chemical Is Hit With Demand for Bhopal Payouts
Excerpt: "India's attorney general asked the country's supreme court Friday to force Dow Chemical Co. to pay an additional $1.1 billion in victims' compensation and environmental-cleanup costs related to an industrial accident that killed and injured thousands of people in Bhopal in 1984." moreNovember 22, 2010, Times of India
Call to Phase Out Mercury From Health Sector
Excerpt: "Patients and doctors in India faced a big health hazard due to exposure to mercury. Indian Medical Association, Toxic Link and Tekno Therm Industries called for phasing out mercury from the healthcare sector." moreNovember 15, 2010, Citizens Against Chemicals Pollution (CACP)
By Takeshi Yasuma
By Takeshi Yasuma
Minamata and the Global Treaty on Mercury
Excerpt: "This report was prepared by Citizens Against Chemicals Pollution (CACP) to provide information about several mercury-related issues in Japan, including the case of the victims of Minamata disease and the global efforts toward a proposed Mercury Treaty to be concluded in 2013." moreNovember 14, 2010, WMA, Canada
WMA Statement on Environmental Degradation and Sound Management of Chemicals
Excerpt: "The World Medical Association (WMA) Statement focuses on one important aspect of environmental degradation, which is environmental contamination by harmful domestic and industrial substances." moreNovember 10, 2010, China Daily
By Wang Qian
By Wang Qian
Stricter Control of Dioxin
Excerpt: "China plans to cut the intensity of dioxin emissions in key industries by 10 percent by 2015 in a major effort to address rising air pollution." moreNovember 9, 2010, Nature News
By Richard A. Lovett
By Richard A. Lovett
A Warming Earth Could Mean Stronger Toxins
Excerpt: "Global warming may be making pesticide residues, heavy metals and household chemicals more dangerous to fish, wildlife and, ultimately, humans, scientists warn." moreOctober 21, 2010, Phoenix, Arizona
CleanMed 2011: Global Conference on Environmentally Sustainable Health Care
Excerpt: "CleanMed is the premier global conference on sustainable healthcare. The conference brings together vendors of environmentally preferable products and services or nutritious, sustainable foods, with health care leaders at the forefront of implementing sustainability projects, green building, design and environmentally preferable purchasing." moreOctober 19, 2010, Times of India
Climate Change Treaty Must Address Health Issues: WHO
Excerpt: "The World Health Organisation (WHO) said next month's climate change conference in Mexico must address health concerns in any legally-binding agreement on mitigating the impacts of global warming as it threatens human health." moreAugust 19, 2010, The Himalayan Times
Bir Hospital to Become Mercury-free Zone
Excerpt: "The Health Care Foundation of Nepal (HECAF) is working with Bir Hospital in Nepal to model sustainable health care waste management. The goal is to render the country's oldest hospital a mercury-free and safe injection zone within a year." moreJuly 3, 2010, Vietnam News
Solar-energy Power Used to Save Lives at Hospital
Excerpt: "HCM City Institute of Physics has installed and successfully brought into operation the first solar integrated photovoltaic system in Quang Nam Province. This system has effectively supplied electricity to the hospital for nearly a month." moreJune 8, 2010, WHA
HCWM Resolution Adopted at 63rd World Health Assembly
Excerpt: "The resolution urges member states to assess the health aspects of waste management in order to make it safe and environmentally sound." moreMay 12, 2010, Times Live
Government to Set Up Own Waste Sites
Excerpt: "Government is considering setting up its own facilities to help dispose of thousands of tons of so-called health care risk waste (HCRW) generated each year." moreMay 5, 2010, The Sacramento Bee
By Bobby Caina Calvan
By Bobby Caina Calvan
Kaiser Presses Suppliers on Green Hospital Goals
Excerpt: "Kaiser Permanente, which has been on the leading edge of the "green hospital" movement, said it will begin pressuring its suppliers to be better stewards of the environment and public health." moreApril 20, 2010,
WHO & the UNDP Launch Unprecedented Global Project
Excerpt: "WHO, along with UNDP, launch the first global project on public health adaptation to climate change." moreFebruary 12, 2010, The Hindu
Pilot Project to Manage Medical Waste in India
Excerpt: "India and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization joined hands to implement a $40 million pilot project for managing the country’s health care system effectively and dispose of hazardous medical waste." moreFebruary 7, 2010, News Brunei fm
Medical Waste Reduction Focuses on Technologies
Excerpt: "A project targeting medical waste reduction in Vietnam have kicked off, aiming to promote sustainble and economical medical waste treatment and management techonologies." moreJanuary 21, 2010, Indian Express
Bio-Medical Waste: Notices to Hospitals in Satara, Solapur
Excerpt: "The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board is conducting a special drive to identify health care set-ups that have not taken the mandatory authorisation for generation of bio-medical waste and also have not joined the common facility for treatment of the waste." moreJanuary 13, 2010, WebMD Health News
By Daniel J. DeNoon
By Daniel J. DeNoon
Bottle and Can Chemical Linked to Heart Problems
Excerpt: "According to the latest findings, higher levels of Bisphenol A mean higher risk of heart disease." moreJanuary 12, 2010, Environmental Health Services
Phthalates May Play a Role in ADHD Symptoms
Excerpt: "Recent research finds that exposure to phthalate chemicals may be linked to attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in school-aged children." moreJanuary 05, 2010, Zeenews
CIC Directs Delhi Government to Put Biomedical Waste Info On Web
Excerpt: "The Central Information Commission has directed the Delhi government to put all the information pertaining to bio-medical waste generation in the national capital on its website." moreNovember 25, 2009, Kathmandu Post
Medical Waste a Concern
Excerpt: "Environmental activists raised concerns over improper medical waste management at a programme in Kathmandu. Improper management of hospital waste not only pollutes the environment, but also poses a health hazard to the staff and public." moreNovember 15, 2009, International POPs Elimination Network
Preparing for Global Mercury Treaty Negotiations
Excerpt: "A meeting held in Bangkok helped to prepare all stakeholders for the upcoming first session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC1) to prepare a globally binding instrument on mercury in June 2010 in Stockholm." moreNovember 10, 2009, Toxics Link
Substituting mercury-based devices in India
Excerpt: "HCWH’spartner in India, Toxics Link, put together a document that presents the efforts and initiatives taken so far by dozens of hospitals working to substitute mercury-based medical devices." moreNovember 9, 2009, BMJ (London)
By Miguel Jara
By Miguel Jara
Madrid: Activists Call for Public Health to Take Central Role at UN Climate Talks
Excerpt: "Environmental health activists have been campaigning for public health aspects of climate change to be incorporated into any agreement reached when world leaders meet to discuss global warming in Copenhagen next month." moreNovember 5, 2009, The Irish Times
By Frank McDonald
By Frank McDonald
Madrid: Health Impact of Weather Change "Could Eclipse All Pandemics"
Excerpt: "The severe health impacts of climate change would "eclipse all known pandemics in the 21st century", it was claimed yesterday, with even a one degree Celsius rise in average temperatures causing a six-fold increase in mortality among respiratory patients." moreOctober 30, 2009, CAATA and SSD
Mexico Commits To Withdraw Mercury From Public Hospitals
Excerpt: "Mexico City is the third mega-city (after Buenos Aires and New Delhi) to join the HCWH-WHO Global Initiative to substitute mercury-based medical devices with safer, economically viable alternatives." moreAugust 19, 2009, Express India
By Ajay Khape, Anuradha Mascarenhas
By Ajay Khape, Anuradha Mascarenhas
City Awaits Bio-Medical Waste, Garbage Treatment Plants
Excerpt: "It will be a year in September since a blast at the bio-medical waste treatment facility at Kailash crematorium near Naidu Hospital killed seven of its employees. The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) closed down the facility and till date the authorities have been unable to find an alternative treatment facility for city's bio-medical waste." moreAugust 6, 2009, Miller-McCune.com
By Judith D. Schwartz
By Judith D. Schwartz
USA: Will Health Care Slip on Oil?
Excerpt: "Health Care's Oil Problem: Given health care's dependence on fossil fuels and the prospect of higher oil prices, dwindling oil supplies will likely give our health system a shock. Think massive heart attack." moreFebruary 20, 2009, AFP, AP
Kenya: States Agree to Mercury Treaty Talks
Excerpt: "More than 140 countries agreed Friday to launch negotiations establishing a treaty on mercury to limit pollution affecting millions of people across the world, the UN environment body said." moreJanuary 30, 2009, El País Digital, Uruguay
Uruguay: End of Mercury-Containing Thermometers
Excerpt: "The Minister of the Public Health Ministry said the aim of this campaign is to raise awareness among families, who should phase out mercury containing thermometers from their houses and replace them with safer alternatives." moreDecember 6, 2008, South Asia Conference for the Elimination of Mercury in Health Care, Delhi, India
Delhi Declaration on Mercury-Free Health Care
Excerpt: "The First South Asian Conference for the Elimination of Mercury in Health Care took place in New Delhi, India on December 5-6. Organized by the Indian-based Toxics Link and Health CareWithout Harm, in Association with WHO and UNEP, the event was attended by health care leaders from throughout South Asia." moreNovember 21, 2008, Living on Earth (Public Radio International)
By Bruce Gellerman (Radio Host)
By Bruce Gellerman (Radio Host)
Green Hospitals
Excerpt: "Critics say hospital buildings and food are enough to make you sick. Today there's a growing movement in health care to get hospitals to green their facilities and, as host Bruce Gellerman reports, it's transforming the medical community." moreOctober 18, 2008, World Medical Association
South Korea: World Medical Association Statement on Reducing the Global Burden of Mercury
Excerpt: "The World Medical Association unanimously passed a resolution calling for the phase-out of mercury use in the health care sector. Delegates said hospitals and medical facilities should switch to non-mercury equivalents" moreOctober 14, 2008, AP
By Jim Abrams
By Jim Abrams
USA: Bush Signs Act Banning Mercury Exports
Excerpt: "Under the legislation, the ban on the federal sale and export of elemental mercury will take place immediately. All exports of the substance will be banned as of Jan. 1, 2013. The act provides for a long-term management and storage option for elemental mercury generated by the private sector as of 2010." more
