Many such uses are being phased out, particularly those in the automobile sector, but the disposal of old products using mercury switches will pose a problem for many years. Instead, a sectoral commitment to phase-out mercury uses, or institute a switch recovery program from expired applications, could be considered. Few existing pigments are manufactured using mercury in North America, though imports of some coloured materials could include mercury based colours and pigments. Very little information is available on this sector, except for a recent demonstration that certain ceramic glazes contain mercury. This seems an unlikely sector for standards development, and so this use will not be considered further.
Hospitals use many of the common products containing mercury.
As they have, in the past, disposed of much of their waste through incineration, hospitals have been identified as a priority candidate for reductions through product management strategies. A number of partnerships have developed between government agencies, private sector interest groups and hospitals to implement mercury audits and replacement programs. In many cases these programs have essentially eliminated deliberate uses of mercury in products such as thermometers, switches, pressure gauges and laboratory chemicals. In reviewing their mercury use, many hospitals have taken the opportunity to implement lighting upgrades to more energy efficient tubes and ballasts, instituting a tube recycling program through the cost-savings incurred. Often the most visible use of mercury, the common fever thermometer, placed under the tongue of many Canadians, is also a common source of mercury releases to the environment.