Adding to the prohibition of the sale of most thermometers containing mercury products is also on the list

The Canadian government plans to introduce new regulations. Starting in 2012, it will ban sales of thermometers, thermostats, and batteries that contain metallic mercury in Canada. The draft new regulations were announced to the public on the same day.

According to the new regulations, the manufacture, import, and sale of most products containing metallic mercury in Canada will be banned. Canadian Health Minister Agrocok said that this move is to protect the health of Canadians. Mercury is a neurotoxin. The inhalation of methylmercury, the biologically active form of metal, affects the child's brain development and learning ability. The Canadian government predicts that the global loss due to methyl mercury will reach 10 billion Canadian dollars per year by 2020. Environment Minister Kent estimates that the implementation of the new regulations will reduce 4.5 tons of metal mercury into the Canadian market each year.

The new regulations also set limits for the use of mercury for products that are not subject to the new regulations. These products include fluorescent lamps, mercury vapor lamps, and car headlights. For some products, the new regulations do not limit their mercury content. These products include dental amalgams, scientific research instruments, and professional optical films and photo papers. Canada's home-grown mercury-containing products consist only of luminaires and beacons, so the new regulations have no effect on Canadian manufacturers.

The draft new regulations announced believe that most metal-mercury products have alternatives at similar prices and with the same level of technology. In particular, some products, such as temperature regulators and non-silver substitutes, have an advantage in performance.

It is expected that within 20 years of the implementation of the new regulations, Canada will reduce 54 tons of metal mercury released into the environment. In the same period, the government will only need to spend an additional 4.2 million Canadian dollars, and consumers will spend an additional 5.9 million Canadian dollars.