Since the mercury reduction efforts started, the hospital has reduced the number of mercury sphygmomanometers by 50 percent. The hospital's overall goal is to reduce 50 percent of its mercury by 2001 and 95 percent of its mercury by 2003. Mercury is a highly toxic, naturally occurring metal that moves between water, air and soil as a result of natural and human activities. The primary health effects of mercury are in the neurological development of children exposed through fish consumption and fetuses exposed through their mother's consumption of fish. Removing mercury thermometers and other mercury-containing equipment from the health care industry waste stream is one of the most effective methods of reducing the amount of mercury in the environment.
Medical facilities can make a major difference in helping to reduce mercury in the environment.
This effort by the Wentworth Douglass Hospital is a major step forward in achieving this goal. Medical facilities commit to meeting their own specified mercury reduction goals and agree to make good faith voluntary effort to identify and implement prevention measures. To be recognized as a partner, a medical facility must have a mercury inventory, a quantifiable mercury reduction goal, an action plan and must report on progress made toward achieving its goal. The pocketbook also includes program requirements and an application. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has announced that the Wentworth Douglass Hospital in Dover, N.H. has been recognized for mercury reduction achievements.