Preventing Mercury Pollution

F. Henry Ford Hospital (Michigan, August 1995)

Perhaps one of the most important aspects Henry Ford stresses in environmental matters, including mercury pollution prevention, is education. Educational at the clinical, administrative, and emergency planning levels focus on being environmentally responsible while at the same time meeting the community health needs. The alternatives to mercury-containing items must be clinically viable in order to be used, and a product that is not environmentally sound will not be purchased. First-response teams are able to minimize patient discomfort and maximize their care, tuning into the emotional element of pollution prevention.

Thermometers and esophageal dilators containing mercury have been or are being replaced with mercury-free alternatives. Blood pressure cuffs that contain mercury are in the process of being replaced with aneroid devices. While there are still devices that contain mercury located and used at the hospital, the safe storage of these devices is an important consideration for Henry Ford.

Henry Ford's laboratory does not release any chemicals down its drains, thereby minimizing chemical on their laboratory sites, buying only the necessary amounts of chemicals needed for their procedures. Henry Ford has removed their old drains and catch points and replaced them with up-to-date systems. The sediment within the pipes are cleaned systematically, and the sludge is treated as hazardous waste.

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