Mercury in Health Care

Health care facilities using mercury-containing products face costs that mercury-free facilities avoid.  Although individual mercury-free products may have higher purchase costs than conventional products, the overall costs associated with mercury products are much higher.  When spills do occur, not only is there the risk of occupational exposure, but also clean-up costs often amount to thousands of Euros.  Mercury disposal is expensive and few disposal options exclude the eventual release of mercury into the environment where it poses health risks by contaminating seafood.  Moreover, other costs associated with mercury-free alternatives may be lower: such as the lower labour costs of using IVAC thermometers, which takes temperature more quickly. Using non-mercury alternatives enables health care facilities to avoid the mercury problem altogether.