SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga, Philippines – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Central Luzon is in a quandary on where to dump hospital devices and other wastes such as busted fluorescent lights containing mercury.
Raldy Pagador of the DENR’s Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) said the disposal of thermometers which have been replaced by digital ones in hospitals has become a problem as no disposal system for such wastes has yet been put in place in Central Luzon.
He said the junking of all hospital devices containing the toxic mercury is in accordance with an order from the Department of Health.
He said DOH Administrative Order 08-21 orders the gradual phaseout of mercury in all Philippine health care facilities and institutions.
Hospitals and rural health centers have begun disposing of thermometers and other items with mercury, he said.
The DOH has noted that short-term exposure to high concentrations of mercury vapor can cause harmful effects to the nervous, digestive and respiratory systems, and the kidneys. In most cases, exposure occurred when mercury is heated.
With thermometers still stocked up in hospitals and other health facilities in the region, the DENR is looking for a site where these could at least be temporarily stored, as no funds are yet available for the expensive treatment of mercury wastes.
“The storage may be a warehouse or an unused building with at least 60 square meters of floor area. It should not be located near schools, residential areas, frequented public places or agricultural fields. It should be at least 500 meters away from bodies of water,” Pagador said.
He said some private establishments in Central Luzon have funding allocations to dispose of their industrial devices such as fluorescents and bulbs and other items containing mercury by having them treated by the private company Dolomatrix, located in Bacolor, Pampanga.
Mercury-containing wastes at Clark Freeport are also reportedly handled by Dolomatrix. –Ding Cervantes (The Philippine Star)
March –
IT’S WOMEN’S MONTH!
“Respect and support women
every day of the year/s!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO Constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar
to carry out the recommendations of the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry
against serious violations of protocols of
Forced Labour and Freedom of Association.
Accept the National Unity Government (NUG)
of Myanmar. Reject Military!
#WearMask #WashHands
#Report Corruption #SearchPosts #TakePicturesVideos
Monthly Observances:
Women’s Role in History Month
Weekly Observances:
Week 1: Environmental Week;
Women’s Week
Week 3: Philippine Industry and “
Made-in-the-Philippines Products Week
Last Week: Protection and Gender-Fair Treatment
of the Girl Child Week
Daily Observances:
March 8: Women’s Rights and
International Peace Day;
National Women’s Day
March 4: Employee Appreciation Day
March 15: World Consumer Rights Day
March 18: Global Recycling Day
March 21: International Day for the Elimination
of Racial Discrimination
March 23: International Day for the Right to the Truth
Concerning Gross Human Rights Violations
and for the Dignity of Victims
March 25: International Day of Remembrance of the
Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade
March 27: Earth Hour
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
