Considering the harm of mercury to mercury thermometers, many countries have taken measures to prohibit it. As early as 1992, Sweden has banned the sale of all medical devices containing mercury. Britain, France, Denmark and the Netherlands have also banned the use and sale. Since 2000, three states and cities such as San Francisco, Boston and Michigan have banned the sale of mercury thermometers.
The European Commission also banned the sale of mercury thermometers from 2005, and banned their export from 20 1 1. From June, 5438 to February, 2008, the Argentine government also announced a ban on the production and import of mercury thermometers. The World Health Organization has also formulated a global mercury phase-out plan, with the goal of reducing the global demand for mercury-containing thermometers and sphygmomanometers by 70% in 20 17.
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.