Energy Savors production discontinued to reduce mercury usage

Islamabad

The Ministry of Climate Change, engaged Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to reduce production of mercury in the province, says a press release. 

In this regard, the organisations encouraged Khyber Lamps to discontinue production of mercury in the country. Khyer Lamps was manufacturing compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFL) commonly known as ‘energy savors in the country.

This decision was taken in an awareness raising workshop organised by Ministry of Climate Change, Government of Pakistan in collaboration with Environment Protection Agency, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to sensitise the stakeholders on Minamata Initial Assessment & Training on Inventory of Mercury and Mercury Compounds in-products in Pakistan.”

Dr. Muhammad Bashir Khan, Director General EPA Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, said that, “In Pakistan, over 50 million lamps per annum are being imported and there is no disposal system available to ensure safe waste of used/damaged CFL or energy savors.

The broken and used mercury tube lights are causing alarming level of mercury because toxic metal is the key component of compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs)”.

Dr. Zaigham Abbas, Deputy Director (Chemical) / National Project Coordinator, Ministry of Climate Change, appreciated the initiatives taken by Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in reducing the production of mercury particularly of Khyber Lamps who started production of LED lights which is mercury free and safe for human health.

Dr. Mahmood A Khwaja SDPI/ President, International Society of Doctors for Environment is aimed to strengthen the baselines on mercury management, development of national mercury, inventories, piloting of sectorial action plans as a follow up of prioritization and development of national mercury management plans and regional approach”.

Dr. Jawad Ahmad Kundi, Vice principal, Sardar Begum Dental College & Hospital said that, In Pakistan, the waste from industries and hospitals are considered the major sources of mercury. The other factors of mercury generation included jewellery, skin creams, batteries, etc which needs to be reduced.

Dr. Sardar Khan, Associate Professor, Dept. of Environmental Sciences, University of Peshawar, Mashkoor Ahmad, Director Sales and Marketing, Khyber Lamps, Peshawar, Dr. Gul Panrah Arbab, Senior Registrar, Conservation Department, Khyber College of Dentistry shared their practical experiences and way forward to strengthen the environment.

Mashkoor Ahmad, Director Sales and Marketing, announced that, Khyber Lamps will phase out mercury based CFL tube lights in their lamps manufacturing and moving towards LED tube lighting.

Dr. Sardar Khan, Associate Professor, Dept. of Environmental Sciences, University of Peshawar, Mashkoor Ahmad, Director Sales and Marketing, Khyber Lamps, Peshawar, Dr. Gul Panrah Arbab, Senior Registrar, Conservation Department, Khyber College of Dentistry shared their practical experiences and way forward to strengthen the environment.

In Pakistan, the waste from industries and hospitals are considered the major sources of mercury. The other factors of mercury generation included jewellery, skin creams, batteries, etc. The expert’s cooperation is vital to combat mercury consumption and introduce alternate products to phase out use of mercury.

Breathing elemental mercury into lungs is generally more dangerous than if one ate the mercury or absorbed it through skin. Once inhaled, the mercury vapor can damage the central nervous system, kidneys, and liver.