Blood pressure machines like this one have become an international health hazard!

The sphygmomanometer is used to measure your blood pressure in the doctor’s surgery and since its introduction over a century ago it has made a huge contribution to the proper care of patients.

However this instrument is also a health hazard for it contains mercury. It is being replaced by the aneroid sphygmomanometer in many countries. The manufacture of mercury containing sphygmomanometers in Asia is a source of mercury pollution.

Pollution from mercury arises mainly from coal fired power stations. The mercury released from the smoke stacks is heavy and contaminates mainly the surrounding land and waters, but a proportion is disseminated more widely. Mercury accumulating in streams and oceans is taken up and converted to methyl mercury by aquatic organisms and it then moves up the food chain to achieve a significant concentration in some fish, particularly tuna, shark, swordfish and mackerel. There is also a high concentration in shellfish because they accumulate the mercury from the organisms they filter. In the United States forty-four state governments warn women and children about eating fish and shell fish for fear of mercury contamination. About 8% of American women have more mercury in their blood than the Environmental Protection Authority considers safe. This is of concern because it causes developmental disorders in the foetus and young children.