Pollution Probe is one of Canada’s oldest and most well established environmental organizations. Over the past five years Pollution Probe’s Mercury Programme has been a comprehensive, multi-faceted approach to the reduction and ultimate elimination of mercury uses and releases. Pollution Probe completed an inventory of mercury sources in Ontario in 1995, which identified the health care sector as a significant contributor to mercury pollution.  Following this inventory Pollution Probe initiated North America’s first hospital mercury reduction initiative – a Memorandum of Understanding with six hospitals in Ontario that encouraged mercury reduction activities within the hospital’s procedures and waste streams.  Pollution Probe is also active in other areas of mercury policy, and has initiated Canada’s first mercury collection programme for automobile electrical switches. 

Why is Mercury a Concern?

Mercury is a persistent, bioaccumulative neurotoxin, and one of the most toxic substances known.  Despite this fact, mercury is used deliberately in the manufacturing of many household consumer products for which there are viable, cost-effective and safe alternatives.  Mercury fever thermometers is one such product that continues to be widely used in homes across Canada.  

Mercury releases associated with its use in products can occur during production, use, breakage, and improper disposal of the products. The transformation of mercury in the environment into methylmercury – its most toxic form, its accumulation in fish, and the resulting health risks for humans and wildlife are well documented.  The US National Academy of Science recently estimated 60,000 children born every year in the US are at risk of neurological developmental problems as a result of maternal mercury exposure.[1]  The US Center for Disease Control increased this estimate to 1 in 10 children, or 375,000 children, born every year in the US alone.[2]

Mercury and methylmercury are referred to as “nerve toxins.” They affect the central nervous system causing a number of serious disorders.  Mercury can cause permanent brain damage, central nervous system disorders, memory loss, kidney failure, liver damage, loss of vision, loss of sensation and tremors.  It is also an “endocrine disrupter,” meaning it damages the development and growth of fetuses and infants.  Mercury is suspected of causing cancer.  Recent studies suggest that mercury may be linked to Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.  Mercury is especially toxic to the neurological development of fetuses and young children, causing learning difficulties, mental retardation and cerebral palsy.

Metallic mercury, as found in thermometers, vaporizes at room temperature.  Mercury from a single broken thermometer that is not properly dealt with can cause dangerously high levels in indoor air. Mercury vapors are most readily absorbed into the bloodstream from the lungs. Mercury can also be ingested if a glass thermometer breaks in the mouth and is swallowed. Metallic mercury also readily passes placental barriers. 

The medical literature contains some cases of serious illness and even death resulting from exposure to mercury from fever thermometers.[3]  Most of these cases involve young children.

The use of mercury in thermometers remains one of the largest sources of mercury in Canadian commerce.  Environment Canada estimates 1.7 tonnes of mercury associated with fever thermometers is discarded each year in Canada. Pollution Probe estimates a further 5 tonnes of mercury are found in fever thermometers in medicine cabinets around the country.   

What is being done?

The growing recognition of mercury contamination, and the contribution of mercury-containing products, has prompted Canada and other nations to take action – primarily in Canada through management of mercury emissions that result from the improper disposal of these products. These management practices, under the auspices of the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment, do not address the potential health risks associated with the use of mercury-containing products.  

The environmental and health hazards of mercury-containing thermometers have prompted several US cities and states to ban the sale of mercury thermometers, including New Hampshire, Freeport, Boston, San Francisco, Ann Arbor and Duluth. Eleven major US pharmacy chains, including Albertson’s, Kmart Corporation, The First Years, and Wal-Mart, have stopped selling mercury thermometers because of the risks and growing public pressure.  These initiatives have encouraged the sale of newer models of mercury­-free digital thermometers, which are now comparable in price to their mercury alternatives. 

Canada’s lack of action has resulted in Canada becoming the dumping ground for North American mercury thermometers that are rapidly being phased-out of use in the United States.  

Health Canada has previously recognized the seriousness of mercury exposure on children health, prohibiting the sale, advertising or import of toys, equipment or other products for use by a child in learning or play that have an applied decorative or protective coating containing mercury or its compounds.  In light of the recent AAP article, Pollution Probe is calling on Health Canada to enact similar legislation to prohibit the sale, advertising and import of mercury-containing thermometers.

Public Actions

Pollution Probe is working with Environment Canada, the Ontario Ministry of the Environment the City of Toronto Department of Household Hazardous Waste and industry representatives to encourage people to purchase non-mercury products (such as digital thermometers), and to dispose of their products properly.  Mercury-containing items can be dropped off at most Household Hazardous Waste depots across the province.  In the Toronto area, these products can also be dropped off at any of the City of Toronto’s Environment Days, which are running throughout the summer months across Metro. To find out when your community will be hosting an Environment Day contact the City of Toronto’s Events Line at 416-392-9585, or visit www.city.toronto.on.ca/environment_days.

For more information on mercury thermometers: http://www.epa.gov/grtlakes/bnsdocs/hg/thermometers.html 

To view the AAP report: www.aap.org/policy/t109907.htm