OneWorld.net (U.S.)

Hailing the passing of a resolution to ban mercury trade by the European Union Parliament, Delhi-based Toxics Link has urged the Indian Government to take a cue from the move against the lethal heavy metal by banning its import and phasing out usage in the country.

Commenting on the resolution that was passed this Wednesday, Ravi Agarwal, Director, Toxics Link, said: "Europe has been the largest exporter of mercury, which figures on the top of the list of deadly contaminants considered serious hazard to health and environment. Therefore this development is nothing short of a watershed and India being the second largest user and importer of the heavy metal, after China, it has serious bearing on the country."

Earlier this year, Toxics Link joined a large number of non-governmental organisations to call upon Governments across the globe to place a ban on mercury exports in a bid to check increasing mercury pollution at the 24th United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Governing Council meeting held from 5th to 9th February 2007.

India, which has no regulatory mechanism on mercury import, has emerged in the recent years as one the leading user of mercury thus contributing substantially to its increasing emission. There has been a growing shift of mercury demand towards the developing nations.

A recent study, by the environmental group has found high concentration of mercury in hospital indoor air, revealing the serious threat it poses to hospital staff and patients alike. The study was done in Delhi.

Earlier, a detailed national study, Mercury: Poison in Neighbourhood, had shown that mercury, which is a neurotoxin and crosses blood/placental barriers and can cause developmental disorder, is being used by a large cross section of social group in India, ranging from students to waste pickers.

In July last year, State Minister for Environment and Forests Namo Narain Meena had said that though the government was aware of the health hazards that the neurotoxin liquid metal causes, yet there was no 'proposal' to curb its current free import and trade.

The EU resolution has placed 2010 as the deadline, a clause that has been criticised by campaigners as according to them each day counts in fight against the deadly toxin. Contact: Ravi Agarwal: +91-9810037355 , Prashant Pastore: +91-9968205393 Parvinder Singh- +91-9811703798 , T: +91-(0) 11-24320711 , 24328006.