Wednesday, April 19, 2006
Council seeks ban on use of mercury in schools
THE City Council approved Tuesday under suspended rules a resolution urging the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Commission on Higher Education (Ched) to restrict, if not ban, the use of mercury in laboratory experiments in all schools.
Councilor Pilar C. Braga, who authored the resolution, said high school students taking science subjects who are using mercury in their laboratory experiments are exposed to health hazards.
In a resolution, Braga said mercury attacks the central nervous system and endocrine system and exposure to the element can permanently damage the brain, kidneys, and other internal organs of the body.
"We are appealing to DepEd and Ched to ban mercury because it is poisonous," Braga said Tuesday.
Braga said there are other ways of experimentation that do not make use of mercury.
"But, as a general warning we have to avoid it and bring in other alternatives. Even other countries have already banned mercury," she said.
She, however, said it is up to authorities to look for other elements or chemicals to use in school experiments that will not harm students.
Sun.Star tried to get comments from DepEd regional director Diamar Kadon, but failed, while Ched regional director Reynaldo Peña was out of town. (BRQ)
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