Europe bans Mercury in measuring devices

In a major breakthrough for anti-mercury campaigners across the globe, particularly in Europe, it is now official that mercury-based barometers will be on the list of banned products that contain the deadly neurotoxin, in the backdrop of the recent European Parliament vote seeking to place a complete ban on its trade by 2010.

Toxics Link, a Delhi-based non-governmental that has been campaigning against the trade and use of mercury in a host of activities and applications in India, has joined Europe's leading campaigners against mercury, the European Environmental Bureau, the Health & Environment Alliance, and the Zero Mercury Working Group, in welcoming the development.
"The saga's over at last! We'll soon have legislation banning the use of mercury from most non-electronic measuring devices," said Elena Lymberidi of EEB's Zero Mercury campaign.

"Reason has finally triumphed, and Parliament has come round to including mercury barometers in the ban. This latest move is a major boost in protecting our health," she added.

Thermometers and all other measuring devices for domestic use will soon be mercury-free. Barometers using the metal will be banned two years later, and by then the Commission will report on the availability of reliable, safer, mercury-free alternative measuring devices, especially blood pressure devices used in hospitals and doctors' practices.

The European Commission had initially proposed only banning mercury from fever thermometers and other measuring devices for public use, and fever thermometers used professionally. Professional measuring devices, such as blood pressure devices in hospitals, could therefore still be used.

"Parliament's vote is a huge relief to everyone who wants to get rid of mercury," said Lisette van Vliet of the Health & Environment Alliance. "This is a good step forward. But it's a pity that blood pressure devices for professional use which contain mercury haven't been banned, because safe, precise and reliable alternatives are available.

The Commission's impact assessment should have already considered that." Responding to this development, Ravi Agarwal, Director Toxics Link, said that the issue of mercury replacement and its ultimate phase out from usage in instruments, most of which are used in hospitals and homes, is critical to minimise exposure pathways of this notorious environmental contaminant.

Mercury usage is also a serious occupational hazard and banning mercury-based instrument will reduce the risk of mercury exposure in hospitals and laboratories, and other specialist workplaces.

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.

"Our study has found high concentration of mercury are also present in the indoor air of hospitals because of unaccounted and unregulated breakage of these measuring devices in hospitals. This is a serious hazard to hospital staff and patients." said Prashant Pastore, Senior Programme Coordinator of Toxics Link.

Earlier, a detailed study, released by Toxics Link, had shown that mercury, which is a neurotoxin and crosses blood/placental barriers and can cause developmental disorder, is being used in various applications and forms ranging from Health care, school labs, traditional and medicinal usage, It was also observed that mercury is finding its way in municipal waste streams, posing serious environmental and health hazards.

The Department of Health, Government of Delhi has recently taken a decision of forming a high-powered committee to suggest ways to curb mercury usage. The Health Secretary D.S. Negi has mentioned that "the committee will document the use of mercury in health care with respect to threat perception to health care staff".

In July last year, State Minister for Environment and Forests Namo Narain Meena replying to question raised in parliament had said that though the government was aware of the health hazards that the neurotoxin liquid metal causes, but "At present there is no proposal to regulate phase out of mercury from the country".

For further information please contact:
Ravi Agarwal:+91-9810037355
Prashant Pastore:+91-9968205393
Parvinder Singh- +91-9811703798
T:+91-(0)11-24320711 , 24328006.

User comments

"Its a start...."

Author: chris snook

Time: 17.07.2007 07:13

Comment: Its a good start and its whats been needed. For long mercury has been a problem most know nothing about.

2 important notes:
Mercury is used by Dentists on their patients for filings among other things.

Mercury is the main ingredient in flu shots which are given to children and is in all immunity shots administered today.

One of the most dangerous mercury compounds, dimethylmercury, is so toxic that even a few microliters spilled on the skin can cause death.

Mercury is a bioaccumulative toxin that is easily absorbed through the skin, respiratory and gastrointestinal tissues. Minamata disease is a form of mercury poisoning. Mercury attacks the central nervous system and adversely affects the mouth, gums, & teeth. High exposure over long periods of time will result in brain damage and ultimately death.

This is the next step to ban use of all mercury on humans. We have a voice, let's use this.

Due you due diligence and share this information with everyone you know.

In the meantime there are alternatives: See a holistic dentist - when your there ask them what makes them different from regular dentists.

Dont get any immunity shots what so ever. There are other answers.