Sir: Mercury (Hg) is a dangerous chemical but its open sale in markets is more dangerous than mercury itself. I am a student of Chemical Engineering. During my final year project our manometer leaked and all mercury drained out. We visited various registered medical stores of Hyderabad to buy mercury for manometer, but it was not available there. Then one shopkeeper told us that you can get it from any ordinary grocery shop near jewellery market Hyderabad. We reached at the said market and found hundreds of shops selling this dangerous chemical without any fear or necessary preventive measures. They were selling mercury in ordinary polythene bags. I asked the shopkeeper about the regular buyers of mercury, he replied that most of buyers are farmers and jewellery manufacturers. One wonders that why local farmers need it? Then my friend told me that mercury is mixed with sand and then it is spread around the wooden houses or walls to protect the wood from termites. We should be careful in the sale of mercury and should not forget about the incident happened in Minamata, Japan which claimed 900 precious lives and badly affected thousands of people. It’s my humble request to Sindh Environment Protection Agency and all other concerned to curb sale of dangerous chemical in local shops to protect environment. SADAM RUSTAMANI Hyderabad