Every responsible person of Hospitals, nursing homes, veterinary hospitals, animal houses, pathological labs, blood banks etc., generating biomedical waste and providing treatment/services, should manage the biomedical waste as per BMW Rules. Anybody found violating the Biomedical Waste Management Rules, 1998, shall be held guilty under the penal provisions of the Rules.

The vehicles transporting Bio-Medical Waste, must comply with requirements of the Environment Protection act 1986 and BMW (Management and Handling) rules 1998 at all times. Accordingly the vehicle shall;

HIGHLIGHTS:  EXPOSURE TO MERCURY

 Exposure to mercury occurs from;

• Breathing contaminated air,
• Ingesting contaminated water and food, and
• Having dental and medical treatments.

What is Mercury?

Mercury is a naturally occurring metal which have several form. The metallic mercury is a shiny, silver-white, odourless liquid. If heated, it is a colourless, odourless gas.

How can mercury affect our health?

Mercury, at high levels, may damage the brain, kidneys and developing foetus. The nervous system is very sensitive to all forms of mercury. Methyl mercury and metallic mercury vapours are more harmful than other forms, because more mercury in these forms reaches the brain. Exposures to high levels of metallic, inorganic, or organic mercury can permanently damage the brain, kidneys, and developing foetus. Effects on brain functioning may result in irritability, shyness, tremors, changes in vision or hearing and memory problems. Short term exposure to high levels of metallic mercury vapours may cause effects including lung damage, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, increase in blood pressure or heart rate, skin rashes and eye irritation.

How likely is mercury to cause cancer?

There are inadequate human cancer data available for all forms of mercury. Mercuric chloride has caused increases in several types of tumours in male mice. The EPA has determined that mercuric chloride and methyl mercury are possible human carcinogens.

How does mercury affect children?

Very young children are more sensitive to mercury than adults. Mercury in the mother’s body passes through the foetus and may accumulate there. It can also pass to a nursing infant through breast milk. However, the benefits of breast feeding may be greater than the possible adverse effects of mercury in the breast milk. Mercury’s harmful effects that may be passed from the mother to the foetus include to brain damage, mental retardation, inco-ordination, blindness, seizures, and inability speak. Children poisoned by mercury may develop problems of their nervous and digestive systems, and kidney damage.

How can families reduce the risk of exposure to mercury?

Carefully handle and dispose of products that contain mercury, such as thermometers or fluorescent light bulbs. Do not vaccum up spilled mercury, because it will vaporize and increase exposure. If a large amount of mercury has been spilled, contact your health department. Teach children not to play with shiny, silver liquids. Properly dispose of older medicines that contain mercury. Keep all mercury-containing medicines away from children. Pregnant women and children should keep away from rooms where liquid mercury has been used.

Is there any medical test to show whether we have been exposed to mercury?

Tests are available to measure mercury levels in the body. Blood or urine samples are used to test for exposure to metallic mercury and to inorganic forms of mercury. Your Doctor can take blood/urine samples and send them to a testing laboratory.

60-70% of waste gets  re-cycled  in the West (US & Europe), only 14% gets recycled in India. In China and other Asian countries, at least 25-30% waste gets recycled.  Economically and  ecologically, proper waste management and recycling would pay rich dividends. Recycling is absolutely essential to conserve precious natural resources.