THE mercury thermometer was banned by Anvisa (National Health Surveillance Agency) this Tuesday (24) throughout Brazil. In addition to the potential damage they cause to health, the objects were banned due to the pollution they cause. dangerous toxic agent leaves in the environment when discarded.
The advantage of this type of meter is that it does not require batteries, however the liquid inside is a metal that can be dangerous if it breaks and spreads throughout the environment.
To work, the thermometer uses the physical property of thermal expansion. According to the website of the Federal Institute of Santa Catarina (Ifsc), “when the temperature of a body varies, this alters the agitation of the particles that form it, modifying the size of that body”.
So, when a person has a fever, the mercury inside the object increases in size, rising in the measurement column.
If it isn’t, the low temperature of the person holding it under their arm causes the liquid to decrease on the temperature scale.
This type of thermometer fell into disuse in 2020, following an initiative by the World Health Organization (WHO) with the signing of the Minamata Convention on Mercury.
The document provides for the gradual elimination of fever thermometers and blood pressure devices that contain mercury and Brazil was a signatory to the agreement.
The WHO explained that the metal “is toxic to human health, posing a particular threat to the development of the child in the womb and in early life.”
Additionally, contact with mercury can cause brain, neurological, kidney and digestive system damage.
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This content was originally published in How mercury thermometers work and why they were banned on the CNN Brasil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
Charles Grill is a tech-savvy writer with over 3 years of experience in the field. He writes on a variety of technology-related topics and has a strong focus on the latest advancements in the industry. He is connected with several online news websites and is currently contributing to a technology-focused platform.
