国产热热热精品,亚洲视频久久】日韩,三级婷婷在线久久,99人妻精品视频,精品九热人人肉肉在线,AV东京热一区二区,91po在线视频观看,久久激情宗合,青青草黄色手机视频

Global EditionASIA 中文雙語Fran?ais
China
Home / China / Society

Ban on mercury thermometers sparks panic buying and market transformation

By WEI WANGYU | chinadaily.com.cn | Updated: 2026-02-10 17:29
Share
Share - WeChat

In pharmacies across China, the humble mercury thermometer is enjoying one last moment in the spotlight.

A national ban halted production of the glass instruments on Jan 1. News of the move, announced by the National Medical Products Administration, triggered buying frenzies, with prices in some cities soaring overnight. The scramble revealed how strongly many families still trust a device that is cheap and accurate but carries environmental and health risks.

In Wuhan, Hubei province, prices for a single thermometer recently jumped from 5 yuan ($0.71) to around 30 yuan.

"No matter how expensive, I need to have a few," said Wang Hong. It was a sentiment echoed in lines outside community pharmacies.

Store owner Tan Enping said he had begun rationing sales as supplies ran low. Customers can buy two at a time, he said, but even that may not last. "Because so many people are stocking up, they will sell out very quickly."

The panic is fueled by familiarity. Mercury thermometers have been used in many households for decades, Tan said, and some customers are uneasy about switching. Many learned about the ban on social media and hurried to buy what they regard as a dependable tool for sick relatives.

Online, the story has been much the same, and sellers said that low-cost options were gone within one week. One major pharmacy flagship store on Tmall, an online shopping platform, has capped a single thermometer at 18.5 yuan to slow down panic buying. "We know they will eventually be phased out, but many people just can't bear to part with them," the seller said.

The phaseout is the result of an international commitment. China is a signatory to the Minamata Convention on Mercury, a global treaty adopted in 2013 to reduce the use of the toxic metal. "This is an inevitable measure," said Su Jing, a public health expert at Tsinghua University.

While the treaty called for action by 2020, China's 2026 deadline allows a transition period for manufacturers.

The dangers tied to mercury are well-documented. When a thermometer breaks, the mercury evaporates into an invisible, odorless vapor. Inhaling it can harm the nervous system and kidneys. Even a small amount can raise concentrations in a typical room far above recommended limits, and mercury can linger in the environment and move through the food chain.

The ban applies to manufacturing, not to owning or selling existing inventory. This has eased some concerns but also created a limbo period.

Public education is now a priority, according to Su. Proper cleanup of a broken device requires careful ventilation, gloves, and sealed disposal as hazardous waste.

Hospitals, however, are ahead of the curve. Many began replacing mercury thermometers years ago with digital and infrared devices, citing benefits like automated record-keeping and reduced infection risk.

Wu Yin, head nurse at Wuhan No 9 Hospital, said the transition began five years ago. Electronic thermometers are now used in all departments. Advantages such as automatic data upload and reduced cross-infection risks quickly became apparent.

Manufacturers have also been preparing. Yuyue Medical Equipment & Supply Co, once a dominant player in the mercury thermometer business, said products containing the metal now account for only a small share of its operations as it shifts toward electronic devices.

Today's alternatives include standard digital thermometers as well as ear and forehead devices that use infrared technology.

Specialists say these products rely on sensors and calibration systems to maintain accuracy. Advances in recent years have helped leading brands meet clinical requirements, easing concerns about whether they can match the old glass models.

For many shoppers, though, trust built up over generations will take longer to replace.

Top
BACK TO THE TOP
English
Copyright 1994 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site.
License for publishing multimedia online 0108263

Registration Number: 130349
FOLLOW US
 
习水县| 罗定市| 安新县| 蛟河市| 临猗县| 张家川| 噶尔县| 开封县| 高安市| 肥乡县| 岐山县| 南安市| 南涧| 普宁市| 建阳市| 恭城| 神农架林区| 久治县| 柘城县| 阿克| 内黄县| 出国| 江陵县| 玉屏| 中牟县| 富平县| 泉州市| 柞水县| 茌平县| 林芝县| 康平县| 竹山县| 夏河县| 霍州市| 宜丰县| 西充县| 屏东市| 徐州市| 永兴县| 改则县| 巩留县|