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- UN Global Mercury Treaty: Almost a step in the right direction
- Fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) to prepare a global legally binding instrument on mercury
- See Mercury factsheet
- See Health Care Without Harm website
- UNEP Studies ShowRising Mercury Emissions in Developing Countries
- Advising on which fish to eat is short term solution to protect against mercury exposure
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Science shows mercury has negative health impact at 'safe' levels -
Scientists and NGOs push for strong legally binding global mercury treaty - Philippines updates list of banned mercury-containing cosmetic products
- Evidence shows mercury threat underestimated ahead of UN treaty talks
- EU to expand Phase-out of Mercury Measuring devices
- Clock Ticking: Time running out to address the global mercury crisis
- South Africa’s Department of Environmental Affairs calls for mercury medical device ban
- Holcim and environmental justice
- Website Launched to Rebut 'Fish Stories' on Misguided 'Mercury Facts'
- Halting the Child Brain Drain- Stay Healthy, Stop Mercury!
- World Governments Move Towards Global Treaty on Mercury
- Press Release - Obama Administration changes position on Mercury
- EU ‘Sees the light’ on energy efficient lamps: mercury content going down
- Press Release - UNEP's Achim Steiner on Mercury
- Press Release - Mercury in Fish
No longer a business-as-usual approach but essentially another paper tiger
Pietermaritzburg, 22 January 2013 – The world now has the text for a legally binding mercury treaty, which was decided upon by more than 140 countries this past weekend in Geneva at the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC5) [1] to prepare a global legally binding instrument on mercury. Read more...
Most Comprehensive Assessment Ever of Global Emissions Released Ahead of Final Negotiations on New Mercury Treaty
Binding Treaty Can Deliver Major Health and Environmental Benefits in Developing and Developed Countries
NAIROBI/GENEVA, 10 January 2013 - Communities in developing countries are facing increasing health and environmental risks linked to exposure to mercury, according to new studies by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Read more ...
A US study has concluded that issuing public health advice on fish consumption is the best short-term solution to reducing people’s exposure to mercury contamination. Reducing mercury emissions at source is considered a longer-term solution. Read more...
Phillipa Jones, Chemical Watch
Europe, 4 December 2012 - Widespread global contamination of seafood from mercury is having negative health effects at levels below those that were considered “safe” just a few years ago, according to three reports published on Tuesday. Read more...
Philippines Food and Drug Administration
Philippines 5 December 2012 - The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the Philippines released an updated list of 71 cosmetic products found to contain mercury, which are banned. The products have been identified between January 2010 and November 2012, according to the agency. The FDA banned 50 such products in the past and now has expanded the list to 71 (CW 7 September 2012). The levels of mercury contained in these products are above the permissible limit of 1ppm stipulated in the country's Consumer Act.
Further Information:
List of products
EcoWaste Coalition
Zero Mercury Working Group, Biodiversity Research Institue, groundWork
Pietermaritzburg, 04 December 2012 – New reports released today show widespread global mercury contamination of seafood and health effects from methylmercury in seafood occurring below the level that was considered “safe” just a few years ago. The Zero Mercury Working Group (ZMWG) in cooperation with the Biodiversity Research Institute (BRI) , is facilitating the release of the three reports. Read more...
Zero Mercury Working Group
Brussels, 03 October 2012 - Health Care Without Harm(HCWH), the European Environment Bureau(EEB) and the Zero Mercury Working Group today applauded the EU's decision to take off the market mercury sphygmomanometers and other measuring devices for industrial and professional use starting April 2014. Read more...
Punta del Este, Uruguay, 2 July 2012 - Governments meeting at the 4th of only 5 negotiations are running out of time to meaningfully address key issues before finalizing a legally binding treaty on mercury, say NGOs. Most major policy issues remain unresolved and the Zero Mercury Working Group, a global coalition of NGOs, expressed concern over the lack of progress at such a late stage. Read press release by Zero Mercury Working Group...
South Africa’s Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) is recommending that the country’s Ministry of Health issue a directive to all provincial governments immediately suspending the purchase of mercury-based thermometers, blood pressure devices and dental amalgam.
“This is a major step forward in the effort here in South Africa to substitute mercury-based medical devices with safe, accurate and affordable alternatives” said Rico Euripidou, Environmental Health Campaigner for groundWork South Africa. Read more ...
A Meeting for environmental justice and Holcim repudiation was held on May 5 2011, in the camp set up by the Pro-health Apaxco-Atotonilco Movement to prevent the operation of the waste mixing plant for alternative fuel of Ecoltec company. This facility is a subsidiary of Holcim, the multinational cement company, and has been responsible for a series of pollution incidents that have affected the health of the community, and cost the lives of 11 of its members.
At the "International Mercury Expo 2010", a mercury watchdog group is launching a new website www.mercuryfactsandfish.org to counter misinformation on 'mercury facts' spread by industry and groups claiming to represent consumers – but in reality often representing special interests in disguise. SOURCE Mercury Policy Project.
www.env-health.org/stopmercury/
On 23 October 2009, world governments took the first significant steps towards a legally binding Treaty to control mercury pollution at a United Nations Environmental Program meeting in Bangkok, Thailand. Read the press release from the European Environmental Bureau and the Zero Mercury Working Group
The Obama administration has reversed the former U.S. position on limiting mercury pollution worldwide. Before astonished environment ministers attending the United Nations Environment Programme Governing Council opening session in Nairobi today, the U.S. delegation endorsed negotiations for a new global treaty to control mercury pollution, to begin this year. Read more...
Environmental NGO's welcome the European Commission's decision to reduce the maximum mercury content in certain energy efficient lamps. It is not only a good step for the EU but also establishes a global precedent for others to follow, they say.
No one alive today is free from some level of mercury contamination and the World Health Organization argues there is in the end no safe limit. Thus prevarication and inaction over the global mercury challenge is no longer an option —we owe it to pregnant women and unborn children everywhere and to artisanal miners and their families. We owe it to anyone who has an interest in a healthier, less polluted world. Read more....
As the world’s governments convene next week to discuss developing a legally binding treaty on mercury, citizens’ groups from around the world have released a new report calling attention to the significant global human health hazards caused by mercury in fish and fish-eating marine mammals. Read Press Release...