¹Ichinkhorloo B., ¹G.Uyanga, ²Ya.Jargal, S.Ulziisaikhan³, B.Tsengelmaa⁴, Ch.Uyanga⁵, B.Baigalmaa⁶, S.Unursaikhan¹, J.Sarantuya⁷

¹National Center for Public Health, Family hospital of Uvurkhangai province,

 Central Clinical Hospital³, Toxicology Emergency Center⁴,

 Dental Hospital⁵, Dermatological Center⁶, Health Science University of Mongolia⁷

Health-care facilities are one of the main sources of mercury releases into the atmosphere because of emissions from the incineration of medical waste. The most common potential mode of occupational exposure to mercury is via inhalation of liquid mercury vapors. If not cleaned up properly, spills of even small amounts of mercury, such as from breakage of thermometers, can contaminate indoor air above recommended limits and lead to serious health consequences.

The overall objective of the study is to conduct mercury-based medical devices used in health care organizations and develop strategy and recommendations on further activity. A cross-sectional study design was used. Totally 578 units of 38 governmental and private health care organizations in Ulaanbaatar, Darkhan, Erdenet cities and Uvurkhangai provinces were conducted in the survey.

Conclusion: Mercury containing devices such as thermometer, blood pressure sphygmomanometer, energy saving fluorescence lamp and thermostats were used in urban and rural hospitals. There are not any regulations for safe handling, storage, and transportation and disposal system of mercury containing devices. Knowledge on handling, storage and disposing mercury based devices are not enough among the medical personals. The current situations for inappropriate disposal system can be posed to increase risks of environmental pollution with mercury.