Mercury thermometer is a kind of thermometer, which is made of glass and contains mercury column that rises with body temperature. Widely used in the medical field and ordinary families, pharmacies can buy. Considering the harm of mercury in mercury thermometers, many countries have taken measures to ban their use. As early as 1992, Sweden banned the sale of all medical equipment containing mercury.
The first thermometer was invented by Galileo in16th century, but it was not until 300 years later that a thermometer with convenient use and reliable performance was designed, and mercury was stored in the mercury ball at the end. When mercury is heated, it will expand and rise along a narrow glass tube. Therefore, small changes in body temperature will lead to a significant increase in mercury content in glass tubes. After measuring the body temperature, the thermometer must be shaken vigorously to make the mercury return to the mercury ball.
Prohibited use:
Considering the harm of mercury to mercury thermometers, many countries have taken measures to prohibit it. As early as 1992, Sweden banned the sale of all medical equipment containing mercury, and Britain, France, Denmark and the Netherlands also banned the use and sale one after another. Since 2000, three states and cities such as San Francisco, Boston and Michigan have banned the sale of mercury thermometers.
However, China does not prohibit the use of mercury thermometers. Mercury thermometers are widely used in the medical field and ordinary families, and some pharmacies can buy mercury thermometers. According to the data of China Medical Device Industry Association, in 2008, the national production of mercury thermometers consumed 109.25 tons of mercury, equivalent to 210.85 billion standard mercury-containing energy-saving lamps. According to statistics, China produces about 65.438+0.2 billion mercury thermometers every year, and more than 654.38+00 tons of mercury is treated as waste due to the breakage of mercury thermometers every year.