AAP Supports Elimination of Mercury-Containing Thermometers

Pediatrics -- A report from the American Academy of Pediatrics addresses the hazards of mercury, and the measures pediatricians can take to reduce children's exposure. One of the chief conclusions is that pediatricians should stop using all mercury-containing devices, including thermometers, and encourage parents to do the same.

According to the report, everyone is exposed to mercury, an environmental toxin. It comes in several forms, and can be found in air, water and food. Significant exposure, whether brief or extended, can produce a broad range of effects on the central nervous system, kidneys, skin and lungs. In children, significant exposure to the central nervous system can result in effects ranging from learning disabilities to devastating neurologic problems including mental retardation, blindness and spasticity.

Because recent research has led to greater appreciation of mercury's toxicity, there have been growing efforts to limit exposure from all sources. For children, these efforts have centered on reducing mercury exposure in its organic form by limiting consumption of contaminated fish such as tuna and swordfish, and fish caught from mercury-contaminated waters. The AAP has also joined with the Public Health Service to reduce the use of thimerosal, a mercury-containing preservative, from vaccines.