Environmental Health News

Mercury Exposure among Garbage Workers in Southern Thailand

Excerpt: "Summary paragraph goes here."  more 

Govt warns hospital to strictly manage waste

Excerpt: "Kathmandu, Nepal - The government has warned that it would shut hospitals failing to set up waste treatment plant."  more 

All about sound management of medical waste

Excerpt: "Bangalore, India - An effective strategy to rid our surroundings of harmful pollutants is the need of the hour. With this in mind, Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB), ministry of environment and forests and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) launched 'environmentally sound management of medical waste in India' here on Monday."  more 

UNIDO to fund $ 2-lakh project for proper bio-medical waste treatment

Excerpt: "India - To reduce Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) from biomedical waste, the United Nations Industrial Organisation (UNIDO) has launched a project titled 'enviornmental sound management of medical waste' in five states including Punjab. The project was launched Tuesday from Ludhiana."  more 

Mercury pollution threatens tourist sites in NTB, C. Sulawesi

Excerpt: "Indonesia - Mercury contamination from artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) in Sekotong, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) province, and in Poboya, Central Sulawesi province, threatens the surrounding tourist areas, rice fields, forests and parks, environmental NGO BaliFokus Foundation has stated based on recent findings. "  more 

No time to lose

Excerpt: "Nepal - Rajesh Karki, a Bir Hospital paramedic, recalls the time when hazardous medical waste, including syringes, bloody cotton swabs, used plasters and wraps, were mixed together haphazardly and discarded like so much household waste to be taken away by a municipality vehicle. Apart from the foul smells emanating from such waste, dissected organs and foetuses were a normal sight on hospital premises."  more 

Climate pressures eroding basic rights in Bangladesh - study

Excerpt: "London (AlertNet) - Increasingly extreme weather is worsening food insecurity, displacement and other problems for rural families in Bangladesh, effectively robbing them of basic human rights, argues a report released on Monday."  more 

Vietnam puts locally-made medical waste incinerator into use

Excerpt: "VietNamNet Bridge – On August 10, the Bac Kan-based Hoa Tu Long Industry Company officially put the medical waste incinerator (YT30) into operation. This is the first high-tech incinerator made in Vietnam. "  more 

A burning issue

Excerpt: "Philippines - Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte has yet to reply to or even acknowledge receipt of a letter sent her by the organization Healthcare Without Harm. The letter, sent July 16, persuades the mayor not to use Pyroclave technology, as proposed by RAD Green Solutions, in dealing with both infectious and non-infectious hospital waste in her city."  more 

Generic drugs to be free for most Indians

Excerpt: "New Delhi, India - Health activists in India have welcomed an ambitious government scheme to provide free medicine to more than half of the country’s 1.2 billion people."  more 

Jakarta and its public health issues

Excerpt: "Jakarta, Indonesia - Jakarta, with more than 10 million inhabitants, is one of the largest urban areas in the world. Of course, Jakarta has a lot of problems, and health care is one of them. Jakarta, despite having 341 community health centers (Puskesmas) and more than 4,000 integrated health service posts (Posyandu), is still battling preventable diseases."  more 

Smile while throwing garbage, for you are on camera

Excerpt: "Mangalore, India: Haphazard dumping of domestic and bio-medical waste across the city will give all those indulging in such acts their 'three minutes of fame'. Peeved with attitude of section of the citizens dumping waste at places convenient to them instead of waste bins, Mangalore City Corporation has decided to catch such people in action through use of cameras capable of seeing all 360 degrees and then publicize their acts in the media."  more 

HCM City inspects waste treatment at health centres

Excerpt: "Vietnam – Authorities in HCM City this month are conducting an inspection of medical waste-treatment management at local health facilities."  more 

Mercury phase-out at hospitals faces uphill battle

Excerpt: "The phasing-out of mercury-based equipment is proving to be an uphill struggle as it faces resistance from hospitals in Denpasar. This is despite the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) planning a global legally binding treaty on mercury."  more 

Medical waste from 45 Bali hospitals: Where does it go?

Excerpt: "Due to urgent calls to lower the operational capacity of its eightyear- old incinerator, Sanglah Hospital has, since March, ceased receiving medical waste from 45 private and public hospitals and clinics around Bali."  more 

Hospital waste, a complex challenge

Excerpt: "Stacks of Sanglah hospital waste, in yellow- and black-colored bags, were piled up at the entrance of Sanglah General Hospital’s incinerator on Monday. However, one particular black bag stood out, as it double-wrapped a yellow bag stuffed with medical waste. "  more 

Medical waste plan proposed

Excerpt: "HCM CITY — The Health Ministry has devised a plan to collect all medical waste every day, with 70 per cent of solid waste to be treated by 2015, according to a source from the Health Environment Management Department. In recent years, cholera and influenza A virus subtype H1N1 have reappeared, most of which are caused by environmental pollution, particularly improper treatment of medical waste."  more 

$2.1 mil for medical waste treatment in Dong Thap

Excerpt: "Dong Thap, Vietnam — The Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta province of Dong Thap has received US$2.1 million in aid for a local hospital waste treatment project."  more 

Yuyun Ismawati: Waste warrior keeps on fighting

Excerpt: "Bali, Indonesia - After the past two years focusing on the completion of her master’s degree on Environmental Change and Management at Oxford University in the UK, Indonesia’s influential environmental activist, Yuyun Ismawati, now 47, can’t wait to roll up her sleeves again and get back into the world of environmental activism. "  more 

Jakarta vulnerable to climate change, report says

Excerpt: "Jakarta, Indonesia - Five of the 530 urban areas in South East Asia most vulnerable to climate change are in Jakarta, according to the results of the International Development Research Center's (IDRC) Economy and Environment Program for Southeast Asia (EEPSA)."  more 

Major hospitals commit to reduce mercury waste

Excerpt: "Indonesia - Denpasar municipal administration has aggressively started its campaign to reduce mercury waste (HG) from the city’s main hospitals in an attempt to properly process the hazardous medical waste. "  more 

Taiwan takes part in global call for green health care

Excerpt: "Taiwan - 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."  more 

US scientist visits PHL to drum up awareness, action vs harmful chemicals in cosmetics

Excerpt: "Manila - A California-based scientist promoting the elimination of toxic chemicals in health and beauty products is coming over to the Philippines as the country gears up for the celebration of Women’s Month this March."  more 

BPA bottles now banned

Excerpt: "Kuala Lumpur - The ban on import, manufacture, advertisement and sale of feeding bottles containing the organic compound Bisphenol A or BPA takes effect today, said Health Director-General Datuk Seri Dr Hasan Abdul Rahman."  more 

Mercury treaty should reflect lessons of Minamata disease

Excerpt: "Tokyo (Kyodo) -- There is growing debate about how to reflect on the lessons learned from Minamata disease in the so-called Mercury Treaty, which is now being discussed with the aim to reduce the use and transfer of mercury in the world to prevent it from damaging the environment and public health."  more 

UNIDO to fund $ 2-lakh project for proper bio-medical waste treatment

Excerpt: "India - To reduce Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) from biomedical waste, the United Nations Industrial Organisation (UNIDO) has launched a project titled 'enviornmental sound management of medical waste' in five states including Punjab. The project was launched Tuesday from Ludhiana."  more 

Mercury pollution threatens tourist sites in NTB, C. Sulawesi

Excerpt: "Indonesia - Mercury contamination from artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) in Sekotong, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) province, and in Poboya, Central Sulawesi province, threatens the surrounding tourist areas, rice fields, forests and parks, environmental NGO BaliFokus Foundation has stated based on recent findings."  more 

No time to lose

Excerpt: "Nepal - Rajesh Karki, a Bir Hospital paramedic, recalls the time when hazardous medical waste, including syringes, bloody cotton swabs, used plasters and wraps, were mixed together haphazardly and discarded like so much household waste to be taken away by a municipality vehicle. Apart from the foul smells emanating from such waste, dissected organs and foetuses were a normal sight on hospital premises."  more 

Hospital contamination could lead to drug-resistant bacteria

Excerpt: "Hanoi, VietNam — Bacterial contamination at hospitals could assist infected bacteria become multi-drug-resistant, increasing the number of patients, fatalities and expenses, health experts have warned."  more 

More efficient waste management with Act

Excerpt: "Putrajaya, Malaysia - Solid waste management and public cleanliness will be handled more efficiently with the implementation of the Solid Waste Manage¬ment and Public Cleansing Act, enforced on Sept 1."  more 

Aquino hit for ‘criminal neglect’ of govt hospitals

Excerpt: "BAYAN Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño, protesting the big cut in the Health Department’s budget, on Friday accused the Aquino administration of “criminal neglect” for cutting the appropriations for public hospitals, saying they were close to becoming health hazards because of their lack of facilities and financing."  more 

Communities express alarm over incinerators reviva

Excerpt: "Residents from communities affected by “state-of-the-art” incinerator plants expressed alarm over bill proposal of Senator Antonio Trillanes which aims to amend the Clean Air Act of 1999 to allow the use of burn technologies as a quick-fix solution to the country’s garbage woes."  more 

Environmental groups slam Aquino gov’t for dirty technologies policy

Excerpt: "No way, no to using incinerators to solve Metro Manila’s growing garbage crisis."  more 

City resolution to ensure proper disposal of medical waste

Excerpt: "Puerto Princesa City, Philippines - A city resolution is now under discussion in the Council which would ensure the proper disposal of medical, hazardous, infectious and toxic waste coming from all medical and health facilities and funeral homes in compliance with Republic Act No. 9003 or “Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000”."  more 

Dagupan awards outstanding employees, social partners in waste management

Excerpt: "Dagupan City -- This city today conferred awards to personnel of the waste management division, local community groups and hospitals for their exemplary performance particularly in the implementation of the “No Segregation, No Collection” policy. "  more 

House OKs bill setting up mercury exposure info program

Excerpt: "Manila - The House of Representatives has passed on final reading a bill on the establishment of an information program on the adverse effects of mercury found in marine products."  more 

Waste water from hospitals poisoning local residents

Excerpt: "VietNam - In HCM City, the waste water from many hospitals goes directly to sewers without any treatment, thus bringing germs from hospitals to the community. "  more 

Denpasar pioneers mercury and medical waste management

Excerpt: "Denpasar, Indonesia - An official says Denpasar’s hospitals are now ready to implement better mercury and medical waste management systems following the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the hospitals and Bali Focus, an NGO concerned with waste management."  more 

‘Green buildings’ in QC to start earning tax credits by June

Excerpt: "Quezon City, Philippines - Eco-friendly buildings in Quezon City can earn tax refunds for their owners starting next month after the implementing rules of a 2009 ordinance were published last week."  more 

PPP also improves healthcare delivery

Excerpt: "The devolution of basic social services under the Local Government Code has encouraged local government units to take an active role in establishing their respective health agenda. The uneven capability to manage and maintain resources among LGUs has resulted in a similar yet uneven implementation of various health delivery programs and systems nationwide.."  more 

Asia must address climate change impact on water and food - ADB Panel

Excerpt: "Hanoi, VietNam - Climate change will create unprecedented challenges in the Asia-Pacific region in coming years, intensifying existing pressures on water and food supplies, while exacerbating weather related disasters, a panel of experts stressed today."  more 

C. Visayas hospitals get waste water treatment grant

Excerpt: "Tagbilaran City, Philippines — In compliance with Republic Act 9275, or the Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004, the Department of Health in Region 7 (DoH-7) has granted five hospitals here with waste water treatment facilities set to be finished by yearend 2011."  more 

Safety disposal of 10 tons of endosulfan from MV Princess of the Stars sought

Excerpt: "Manila, Philippines -- Environmental health and justice groups on Saturday asked the Philippine government to ensure the safety disposal of some 10 metric tons of endosulfan retrieved from MV Princess of the Stars which sunk off Sibuyan Island."  more 

Reports of high mercury levels in Tondo to be probed

Excerpt: "Manila, Philippines—The Manila City health office fielded on Monday a team to investigate the reported high levels of mercury vapor detected in a lamp waste recycling station in Tondo."  more 

Beyond ‘Tigdas’ Vaccination

Excerpt: "The DOH’s month-long the national measles vaccination program is of the Department of Health is a welcome move., as it stands to Itbenefit will benefit the more than 18 million children who will receive the vaccination and their parents who are reminded that the department is doing its best to provide health care."  more 

Mercury vapors detected in lamp waste recycling sites

Excerpt: "Manila, Philippines – Groups concerned with occupational and environmental health today pressed the government and the industry to introduce a system for the environmentally-sound management of mercury-containing lamp waste for households and small businesses and institutional users."  more 

Renewable energy scams on the rise, government warned

Excerpt: "Manila, Philippines - Environmental groups on Monday warned the government against the influx of waste-to-energy schemes masquerading as renewable-energy sources, saying it will undermine the ban on waste incineration, cause toxic pollution and reduce employment in the recycling sector."  more 

Becoming mercury-free

Excerpt: "In gatherings like last week’s Asian Regional Conference on Mercury-Free Health Care held at the Gateway Suites in Quezon City, it is as interesting to listen to question-and-answer portions and feedback from members of the audience (whose expertise comes from years of exposure to the situation on the ground) as it is educational to use information from the official speakers."  more 

Ban on BPA milk bottles

Excerpt: "PUTRAJAYA: Polycarbonate infant milk bottles containing the chemical Bisphenol A (BPA) will be outlawed from March 1 next year."  more 

Solon requires labeling of PVC products

Excerpt: "Manila, Philippines - Manufacturers of polyvinyl products (PVC) will soon be required to consistently label all PVC products once a bill filed at the House of Representatives is enacted into law."  more 

Climate change increases health risks

Excerpt: "Climate change has contributed to people’s susceptibility to skin cancer, respiratory problems and other diseases, an official says. "  more 

EMB, anesthesiologist group in Eastern Visayas hold healthcare waste management forum

Excerpt: "Tacloban City -- In line with the Environmental Awareness Week celebration, the office of the Environment and Management Bureau (EMB) here in region 8 and the Philippine Society of Anesthesiologist Incorporated - Eastern Visayas Chapter (PSAI-EV) jointly conducted November 4 a healthcare waste management forum at the function hall of the Divine Word University (DWU) Hospital."  more 

QC dad: Ban medical services containing mercury

Excerpt: "A councilor has asked the Quezon City government to ban or prohibit the use of medical services containing mercury in all hospitals and health care facilities."  more 

Japan team decomposes medical waste into water, CO2

Excerpt: "Shiga University of Medical Science and a company in Shiga Prefecture, western Japan, have jointly developed commercially feasible equipment to decompose medical waste into water and carbon dioxide."  more 

Government to report on hazardous medical waste

Excerpt: "Jakarta - The Environment Ministry said it will report on healthcare waste practices and allegedthat some hospitals have been dumping untreated - and potentially hazardous - medical waste into rivers. "  more 

Moves to outlaw mercury use in Indonesian Medical Sector

Excerpt: "Jakarta - Environmental health activist Yuyun Ismawati is hardly a fan of mercury, so it came as a shock to her to find out that her dental fillings contained high concentrations of the heavy metal."  more 

Mercury falling

Excerpt: "Faye Ferrer talks about the day she went to an outlet of the largest and most popular drug store in the country to find out whether the staff would sell her a mercury-based thermometer. Administrative Order 21 of the Department of Health, issued in July 2008, calls for the phaseout of all mercury-containing devices by September this year."  more 

Mercury high in Japanese town that hunts dolphins

Excerpt: "TAIJI, Japan — Residents of the dolphin-hunting village depicted in Oscar documentary "The Cove" have dangerously high mercury levels, likely because of their fondness for dolphin and whale meat, a government lab said Sunday."  more 

Mercury fate up to next Prez

Excerpt: "Even as the votes cast in the country’s first computerized elections have not been totaled, only four among the presidential candidates, none of them in the top rankings in pre-election surveys, have a firm commitment to a toxic-free health program."  more 

Editorial: War over water

Excerpt: "Water, so goes the cliché, is life. But water—dirty, untreated, tainted with chemicals—can also be death, a reality that confronts billions of people around the world. It’s an ironic testament to the planet’s interconnectedness that today, as people and scientists confront the impact of climate change, especially global warming that melts glaciers faster than ever and swells sea levels, threatening thousands of coastal communities with deadly floods, so many others are also dying from the lack of water for so many vital uses: for irrigation, for running factories, for cleansing, and for drinking."  more 

Safe health care

Excerpt: "Now that El Niño and the power supply shortage that goes with it are upon us, the government is left with no option but to idle some hydro-electric power plants and switch to coal-fired and bunker fuel-run generating facilities."  more 

Rizal starts phasing out mercury-laden devices

Excerpt: "Antipolo City — Public hospitals managed by the Rizal provincial government are set to gradually phase out medical devices containing mercury within the next few weeks as the purchase of non-mercurial thermometers and sphygmomanometers are under way."  more 

DOH Wants Import Ban on Products with Mercury

Excerpt: "Manila, Philippines - The Department of Health (DOH) may recommend to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) the banning on the importation of mercury-containing products in the country."  more 

Health Regulators Ban 9 More Chinese Cosmetics

Excerpt: "Manila, Philippines—Health regulators here on Wednesday said they had banned nine more apparently Chinese-made cosmetic products because they were found to contain dangerous levels of mercury."  more 

DoH Calls for Ban on Mercury

Excerpt: "Manila, Philippines—Citing global moves to ban mercury, the Department of Health said over the weekend it would call for a ban on the importation of health products containing the highly-toxic substance."  more 

From a Phase-Out to a Total Ban

Excerpt: "Two months ago, I wrote about the campaign to phase out mercury-based healthcare materials like thermometers and sphygmomanometers (blood pressure taking devices) in hospitals and households. In that article entitled “Doing away with mercury”, I also talked about the Department of Health’s Administrative Order 21, issued in July 2008. The order mandated all hospitals to immediately discontinue the distribution of mercury thermometers to patients, stick to the prescribed timeline in phasing out mercury in their facilities and undertake a mercury minimization program. All health-care facilities should be mercury-free by the end of 2010."  more 

Hospitals Urged to Complete Mercury Phase-Out

Excerpt: "Manila - An environmental group urged hospitals, both public and private, on Friday to complete their phase-out of mercury-containing medical devices as the deadline looms for its complete elimination by September as earlier stipulated in the Department of Health (DoH) Administrative Order 2008-0021."  more 

Envi-Health Group Warns Public of Other Mercury-Containing Products, Devices

Excerpt: "Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia (HCWH-SEA) recently warned the public of other mercury-containing products and devices commonly used in household and healthcare setting."  more 

Philippines Finds Mercury-Laced 'Chinese' Cosmetics

Excerpt: "Manila — Philippine health regulators said Wednesday they have banned three apparently Chinese-made cosmetic products because they were found to contain dangerous levels of mercury."  more 

Int'l Health Coalition Launches Signature Campaign for Mercury-Free Hospitals

Excerpt: "Tuguegarao City — Workers of an international health coalition have launched a signature campaign calling for public support on the gradual phase out of mercury in all health equipments and facilities in the country. "  more 

Vietnam: 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 for the country, Vietnam news agency reported."  more 

Public Urged to Conserve Electricity

Excerpt: "Manila—Open the windows of your homes, use a mosquito net rather than electric insect repellants and, if you can, don’t iron clothes anymore."  more 

EcoWaste Pushes Chemical Safety Amid Rising HIV/AIDS Cases

Excerpt: "Manila - Amid stern warning from health officials against potential HIV/AIDS “explosion,” a waste and pollution watchdog on Friday pushed for vigorous action to prevent and control harmful chemicals that can further weaken and damage the immune system. "  more 

Green Group Backs 'Basura-Free Elections 2010'

Excerpt: "Manila -- The environmental advocacy group EcoWaste Coalition has thrown its support behind an inter-agency drive to prevent and reduce campaign trash as the official campaign period for national positions and party-list groups commences on February 9. "  more 

One Green Initiative

Excerpt: "Adding to the already long list of advocacies that various groups have laid out before presidential candidates and their parties, Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia challenges them to “make green health care part of their agenda,” and all voters to support “green health candidates.” "  more 

Group Lauds Munti Law vs ‘White Pollution’

Excerpt: "Environmentalist group Eco-Waste Coalition commended the Muntinlupa City for passing an ordinance aimed at reducing “white pollution.”"  more 

Mercury Phase-out, Other Green Health Care Initiatives on the Horizon

Excerpt: "In a gathering of doctors, nurses, midwives, sanitation engineers and other health care workers, one would expect a health agenda to start off the event and a health plan to close it. True enough, in the 1st regional conference organized by Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia (HCWH-SEA) and the Department of Health-Center for Health Development I (DoH-CHD), 637 health care workers from all over Ilocos region signed the Green Health Covenant with a promise of a greener health care. "  more 

QC to Crack Down on Industrial Firms using Hazardous Chemicals

Excerpt: "The Quezon City government said Tuesday it will close down industrial firms using hazardous chemicals like mercury-based medical devices as part of city’s global fight against climate change. "  more 

Global Group Calls for Chemical Safety

Excerpt: "As various stakeholders from governments, industry associations and public-interest groups start to converge in Geneva for the second International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM2), a global coalition called for robust and faster action toward chemical safety through a "Citizens' Report.""  more 

Hospitals Urge DoH to Work for Release of 100 M Fund for Health

Excerpt: "Hospitals all over the country together with Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia (HCWH-SEA) sent a letter to Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III urging him "to find the most expeditious way" to see the release of the P100 million budget for autoclaves for the treatment of infectious medical waste."  more 

DoH Seeks Storage Spaces for Mercury Thermometers

Excerpt: "The Department of Health (DoH) and the Health Care Without Harm yesterday called on the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to immediately designate storage spaces for mercury thermometers in line with the complete phase-out by 2010"  more 

NGO Asks DENR to Identify Mercury Storage Facilities

Excerpt: "Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia (HWH-SEA) yesterday asked the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to come up with storage facilities for mercury-based devices being phased out in Philippine hospitals."  more 

Safe Storage Needed for Discarded Mercury Thermometers

Excerpt: "Thermometers that use mercury, a toxic liquid metal, are expected to be phased out from both public and private hospitals by 2010. But in the meantime the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) should find safe storage for disposed thermometers."  more 

Group Commends Petition to Cancel Austrian Incinerator Loan

Excerpt: "Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia (HCWH-SEA) commends the initiative of Representatives Edcel C. Lagman and Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel in launching a petition to the Austrian parliament to cancel a 1997 loan agreement with the Philippines used by the Department of Health (DoH) in the acquisition of 26 medical waste incinerators, which were later found out to be highly polluting."  more 

Muntinlupa Gets Rid of Mercury

Excerpt: "Muntinlupa City has banned the use of mercury thermometers and other mercury-containing medical implements in all city-run hospitals and clinics, citing the toxicity of the heavy metal substance. Mayor Aldrin San Pedro said an administrative order of the Health Department last August called for a gradual phase-out."  more