The first-ever environmental survey of 50 major U.S. hospitals uncovered widespread failure on the part of medical facilities to take steps to halt contamination of milk, meats and fish by dioxins and mercury pollutants that impact health.
Some hospitals are environmental heroes.
But the industry has a long way to go before it can be considered environmentally responsible. Of the top 50 hospitals surveyed, more than 40 percent were unnecessarily incinerating waste that could be treated by safer methods. Only 4 percent of the hospitals surveyed used PVC-free IV bags. The survey also found that nearly four out of five hospitals surveyed had mercury reduction programs, but nearly half were still buying mercury thermometers and more than half were still buying mercury sphygmomanometers. We stand ready to help all our nation's top hospitals get their toxic waste out of our food and inspire others to follow.