Mercury Under Siege

Manila — Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia (HCWH-SEA) today again lauded the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for banning nine more mercury-containing beauty products and called on the Health department to step-up ban of mercury thermometers and sphygmomanometers.

“It seems that mercury is under siege here,” said Faye Ferrer, HCWH-SEA Program Officer for Mercury in Health Care. “Let us not forget mercury thermometers and sphygmomanometers. These devices need not be tested for their mercury content. It’s out in the open that they are mercury-containing.”

Ferrer compared mercury thermometers and sphygmomanometers to a “culprit on the loose” if they are not immediately banned. “We ban mercury-laden beauty products but we allow mercurial devices to be continuously used.”

The FDA today banned seven freckles crème and two skin-whitening products containing mercury. Earlier Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral said they no longer give permit to sell mercury thermometers and will escalate the program to include mercury sphygmomanometer. The Health department should fast track its ban in the importation of these mercury-containing medical devices.

According to news, the beauty crèmes were imported without government authority. Mercury is among the regulated products under the Department of Trade and Industry’s list of regulated imported commodities.

FDA also issued a warning to stores who will continue to sell the product that they will face criminal prosecution. “If FDA is so tough with mercury-laced products and the distributors of these products, the same must be bestowed upon those still using and selling mercurial devices.”

“The only thing that separates us from mercury poisoning is the thin glass holding the mercury in thermometers.”

Health Care Without Harm is an international coalition of more than 500 organizations in 53 countries, working to transform the health care sector worldwide, without compromising patient safety or care, so that it is ecologically sustainable and no longer a source of harm to public health and the environment. Visit the HCWH website for more information.