title: Awareness assessment of harmful effects of mercury in a health care set-up in India: A survey-based study.
abstract: Mercury, one of the most toxic heavy metals, is ubiquitous in environment. The adverse health impact of mercury on living organisms is well known. The health care facilities are one of the important sources of mercury release into the atmosphere as mercury items are extensively used in hospitals. To assess the awareness about mercury toxicity and the knowledge of proper handling and disposal of mercury-containing items in health care set-up, a questionnaire-based survey was carried out amongst doctors (n = 835), nurses (n = 610) and technicians (n = 393) in government hospitals, corporate hospitals and primary health care centres in the Indian states of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. The study was conducted using a tool-containing pretested structured multiple-choice questionnaire. Analysis of the results using STATA 11.1 software highlighted that overall awareness was more in corporate sector. However, percentage range of knowledge of respondents irrespective of health care sector was only between 20 and 40%. Despite the commitment of various hospitals to be mercury free, mercury containing-thermometer/sphygmomanometer are still preferred by health professionals. The likely reasons are availability, affordability, accuracy and convenience in use. There is an urgent need for source reduction, recycling and waste minimization. Emphasis must be laid on mercury alternative products, education and training of health personnel and public at large, about correct handling and proper clean up of spills.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Nabanita
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Halder
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Sharda Shah
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Peshin
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Ravindra Mohan
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Pandey
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India yk.ykgupta@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Yogendra Kumar
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Gupta
mesh_terms: D000488:Allied Health Personnel / Q000193:education; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D055884:Chemical Hazard Release / Q000517:prevention & control; D054750:Ecotoxicology / Q000193:education*; D004506:Education, Nursing; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D004787:Environmental Pollution / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006256:Hazardous Waste / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000517:prevention & control; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006777:Hospitals, Proprietary; D006779:Hospitals, Public; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education; D008506:Medical Waste / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000517:prevention & control; D017744:Medical Waste Disposal / Q000379:methods; D008628:Mercury / Q000633:toxicity*; D008630:Mercury Poisoning / Q000209:etiology*; D009726:Nurses; D057566:Self Report; D000078329:Workforce
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D006256:Hazardous Waste; D008506:Medical Waste; D017744:Medical Waste Disposal; D008628:Mercury
keywords: Mercury; environmental pollution; health care professionals; health care sector; survey-based study