In the days leading up to the Lunar New Year of the Horse 2026, pharmacies in China unexpectedly became bustling with activity due to a very familiar item: mercury thermometers.
In Wuhan, Hubei province, the price of a mercury thermometer has skyrocketed from around 5 yuan (over 16,000 VND) to 30 yuan. Many people are lining up in long queues outside community pharmacies to buy several.
"No matter how expensive, I have to buy a few to stock up," said Wang Hong while waiting in line. This sentiment is spreading, leading many pharmacy owners to limit each customer to a maximum of two masks.
The price of mercury thermometers has skyrocketed in Wuhan, China, in the days leading up to the Lunar New Year. (Photo: Pixabay)
Ong Tan Enping, the owner of a pharmacy in Wuhan, said that the surge in customers caused the supply of mercury thermometers to run out in just a few days.
Many elderly people are particularly worried because they are used to using mercury thermometers and consider them a reliable tool for monitoring the health of their children and grandchildren, especially during Tet when the weather is cold and the risk of minor illnesses is higher.
The trend has also spread to e-commerce platforms. Many large stores on Tmall sold out of inexpensive thermometers within a week.
"We knew we would have to give up mercury thermometers sooner or later, but many people still can't get used to the change," explained a representative of a large pharmacy chain in China.
The reason behind this surge stems from China's international commitment to the Minamata Convention on Mercury, signed in 2013 to gradually reduce the use of this toxic metal. Although the global deadline for implementation was 2020, China extended the transition period to 2026 to allow manufacturers time to adapt.
Public health expert Su Jing from Tsinghua University (China) believes this is a necessary measure because when mercury breaks, it can release invisible toxic fumes that seriously harm the nervous system and kidneys, and accumulate in the environment and food chain over the long term.
Other experts also recommend safe handling of mercury when a thermometer breaks: Ensure good ventilation, wear gloves, and dispose of the mercury according to hazardous waste classification regulations.
The ban only applies to newly manufactured thermometers, not to the sale of existing stock or personal use, so there is still time for a transition. However, many Chinese people are still worried that supplies will soon run out after the Lunar New Year.
In fact, major hospitals in China have switched to electronic and infrared thermometers for many years. At Wuhan No. 9 Hospital, head nurse Wu Yin said the replacement process began this year and offers many benefits such as automatic record keeping and reduced risk of cross-infection.
Major medical device manufacturers like Yuyue Medical have also drastically reduced the proportion of mercury-containing products, shifting towards modern electronic devices. Current replacement thermometers have significantly improved accuracy thanks to advanced sensors and calibration technology, meeting clinical standards.
Nevertheless, for many Chinese families, the belief in the familiar mercury thermometer from their grandparents' time is difficult to change overnight, especially as the Lunar New Year approaches and the need for family health care increases.
Source: https://vtcnews.vn/nguoi-trung-quoc-dua-nhau-mua-nhiet-ke-thuy-ngan-truoc-tet-ar1003012.html
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