No-mercury future for thermometers

About 7 million mercury thermometers in hospitals and clinics across China may be phased out by the end of this year, as an international treaty to protect human health and the environment from poisonous mercury took effect in China on Wednesday.

They will be replaced by mercury-free products, including electronic thermometers, which have been widely adopted in hospitals across China, according to the China Medical Devices Industry Association.

Yang Xiaofang, from the association's legal department, said at a news conference on Wednesday that China will follow the World Health Organization's proposal to reduce global demand for mercury thermometers and blood pressure gauges 70 percent by the end of this year.