New York : During this most medical thermometers use mercury ( mercury ) . However , the future use of mercury in the thermometer should be phased out until 2020.The World Health Organization ( WHO ) tries negate a use of mercury after several nations signed the UN treaty to control the toxic liquid metal."Mercury is one of the top 10 chemicals of public health concern and is a substance that spreads to the ecosystem and settle in for a few generations , causing severe illness and intellectual impairment in the exposed population , " WHO chief Margaret Chan said in a statement as quoted from Channelnewsasia, Sunday ( 13/10/2013 ).WHO is working with Health Care Without Harm is aimed at eliminating mercury in fever thermometers and blood pressure devices , in 2020 . This means that the goal will be achieved if the manufacture , import , and export of the device is discharged or use non - mercury alternatives.On Thursday, October 10, 2013 , delegates from 140 countries gathered in the city of Minamata , Japan , and the United Nations signed an agreement on mercury . Minamata mercury exposure is where the scandal in 1950.Tens of thousands of people were poisoned and about 2,000 people died from eating fish and shellfish taken from polluted waters from local factories that discharge .Minamata Convention on Mercury was the first agreement legally binding in the world about the highly toxic metal . It will take effect after ratification by 50 countries and the United Nations expects it will take 3-4 years.The agreement set a long list of products that should be phased out by 2020 , including mercury thermometers. In addition it gives time to the government 15 years to put an end to all mining mercury .But , in a number of countries that agreement could still continue the use of mercury in medical measuring devices to 2030 in special circumstances.Health disturbWHO said the negative consequences of the use of mercury makes all countries should stick to the 2020 targets.Mercury and other chemicals of concern for global public health . The use of mercury can seriously impact the health of the brain and nerve damage , especially among young people . Other risks include damage to the kidneys and digestive system.WHO said the campaign will also handle the mercury antiseptic and skin-lightening cosmetics and try to eliminate its use in dentistry , and help address the health effects of their use in small -scale gold mining.
