Safer chemicals resources

In addition to Health Care Without Harm’s work to substitute mercury-based medical devices with accurate, affordable alternatives, we are working to substitute other hazardous chemicals in health care products and practices in a diversity of health care settings. 

Health Care Without Harm is executing a project funded by SAICM (Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management) through the United Nations Environment Programme. This project is piloting chemical substitution in two hospitals in Argentina and two hospitals in the Philippines. Results of this project will be released in early 2014.

Additionally, a growing number of hospitals, health systems, communities and manufacturers around the world are reducing PVC and DEHP. While these efforts are primarily taking place in Europe, the United States, and Japan, there are also incipient initiatives in developing countries that point to an escalating trend in the Global South. PVC is rarely recycled, instead it usually ends up being incinerated or landfilled.

 

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