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Raldy Pagador of the DENR’s Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) said the disposal of thermometers which have been replaced by digital ones in hospitals has become a problem as no disposal system for such wastes has yet been put in place in Central Luzon.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)
September 18 –
International Equal Pay Day
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more than other cost items.
For widespread, practical equality!”
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September –
5 Sept – Intl Day of Charity
7 Sept – Intl Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies
8 Sept – International Literacy Day
12 Sept – United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation
15 Sept – International Day of Democracy
16 Sept – International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer
17 Sept – World Patient Safety Day
18 Sept – International Equal Pay Day
21 Sept – International Day of Peace
26 Sept – International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons
27 Sept – World Tourism Day
28 Sept – International Day for Universal Access to Information
29 Sept – International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste
30 Sept – World Maritime Day
Monthly Observances:
Health, Safety and Sanitation Month
National Clean-up Month
Civil Service Month
National Peace Consciousness Month
Social Security Month
Rule of Law Month
National Teachers’ Month (Sept 5-Oct 4)
Weekly Observances:
Sept 17 – 23:
World Clean and Green Week
Week 2: Education Week
Week 4: Medicine Week
Last Week: National Family Week
Daily Observances:
Third Saturday:
International Coastal Clean-up Day
Third Monday: World Health Day
Last Friday: National Maritime Day
Sept 8: National Literacy Day
Sept 15: Philippine Medicine Day
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