From January 1, 2026, the production of mercury thermometers and sphygmomanometers will be completely banned in China.

What's the reason?

"The ban on mercury thermometer production is a specific measure taken to fulfill China's obligations under the important international Minamata Convention on Mercury. It also reflects the concepts of ecological protection and medical safety," said Professor Yu Lei of the School of Chemistry and Materials Science at Yangzhou University. The convention's core requirements include prohibiting the mining of primary mercury ore, strictly controlling the use of mercury resources, and gradually phasing out mercury-containing medical products and everyday items.

According to Yu, metallic mercury, commonly known as quicksilver, is unique in being a liquid metal at room temperature, and it is highly toxic and non-degradable.

Inhaling high concentrations of mercury vapour can cause acute poisoning, damaging the nervous system and kidney function. Inhaling mercury vapour can lead to developmental delays in children and foetal deformities in pregnant women. Furthermore, if a broken mercury thermometer is put in the soil or a river, the mercury will convert into methylmercury, which is even more toxic and can cause long-term damage to the ecosystem.

What are safe alternatives?

Ma Cheng, associate director of the Analytical Chemistry Teaching and Research Office at Yangzhou University, believes that new thermometer products should offer the measurement advantages of mercury thermometers while being safe to use. Electronic thermometers, which are becoming increasingly popular, may be an ideal alternative.

Ma explains that electronic thermometers do not contain mercury, thus eliminating the risk of mercury pollution. There are two main categories: non-contact and contact. The former includes forehead and ear thermometers.

Contact electronic thermometers resemble mercury thermometers in their use and can measure temperature orally, axillary or rectally. They work by using a temperature sensor to output an electrical signal, which is then processed and displayed digitally. The entire process takes only about 15 seconds.

High-quality products can achieve measurement accuracy comparable to mercury thermometers, significantly improving the efficiency of emergency triage and large-scale temperature screening, whilemeeting the needs of clinical and everyday use.