The Zero Mercury Campaign website is part of the Global Zero Mercury Campaign Project having as its ultimate objective ‘Zero’ emissions, demand and supply of mercury, from all sources we can control, in view of reducing to a minimum, mercury in the environment at EU level and globally.

The project started in November 2004, by the European Environmental Bureau (EEB) in collaboration with the (international) Ban Hg Working Group, represented by its northern coordinator - Mercury Policy Project . Details on the project can be found here.

Mercury and its compounds are highly toxic to humans, especially to the developing nervous system. They are also harmful to ecosystems and wildlife populations. Microbial metabolism of deposited mercury can create methylmercury, which has the capacity to collect in organisms (bioaccumulate) and to concentrate up food chains (biomagnify), especially in the aquatic food chain. Methylmercury is a well documented neurotoxicant, which may in particular cause adverse effects on the developing brain. It readily passes both the placental barrier and the blood-brain barrier, therefore, exposures during pregnancy are of highest concern. It may also cause adverse effects on the cardiovascular system, thereby leading to increased mortality. Methylmercury compounds are considered possible carcinogenic to humans according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer. Furthermore, inhalation of elemental mercury vapour includes symptoms such as tremors, insomnia, memory loss, neuromuscular changes, and headaches. Kidney and thyroid may be affected.
                                                                                   
                                                            Français- Glossaire Mercure

Forthcoming Events

7-11 June 2010, Stockhom, Sweden
1st Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee(INC)
on Mercury

10-14 May, Geneva, Switzerland
Basel Convention, OEWG 7

22-25 April, 2010, Williamsburg, Virginia, USA
2010 International Mercury EXPO
The College of William and Mary

5-13 March, 2010, Kingston, Jamaica
SAICM regional meeting for Latin American and the Caribbean , together with regional mercury consultations (UNEP) and a nanotechnology workshop (OECD/UNITAR/IOMC

24-26 February 2010, Bali, Indonesia
11th Special Session of the Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum
Theme: Environment in the multilateral system

22-26  February 2010, Bali, Indonesia
Simultaneous extraordinary meetings of the Conferences of the Parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions

21-22 February 2010, Bali, Indonesia
11th Session of UNEP Global Major Groups and Stakeholders Forum (GMGSF)

1-3 February 2010, Bangalore, India
5th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON CHILDREN'S HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT

25-29 January 2010, Abidjan, Cote D'ivoire
Africa regional meeting on SAICM, workshop nanotechnology and industrial chemicals, Abidjan, Cote D'ivoire

7-11 December 2009, Lodz, Poland
Third Central and Eastern European regional meeting on SAICM and associated workshops on mercury and a workshop on nanotechnology, Lodz, Poland

23-27 November 2009, Beijing, China
Asia-Pacific regional meeting on SAICM, consultation on mercury and workshop on nanotechnology, Beijing, China,

20 November 2009, Brussels
EU Mercury Storage meeting consultation

 



2 February 2010
EEB comments on Revised draft final BiPRO study on mercury storage

26 January 2010
Environment and Health NGOs comments on labelling of foodstuffs: Environment Committee’s report on the proposed regulation on food information to consumers

15 December 2009
EEB comments on draft final BiPRO study on mercury storage

13 November 2009
NGOs letter to WHO on dental amalgam

13 November 2009
EEB-HCWH Letter to Commissioners 'Environmental and Health NGOs call for a rapid process to phase out of mercury-containing blood pressure devices in healthcare'

NEW Publication
Report from the conference 'EU Mercury phase out in Measuring and Control Equipment'
October 2009

19 October 2009
Zero Mercury Working Group Quick Views on a successful OEWG 3 on mercury
also available in Portuguese, Arabic, Russian and French

Mercury in lamps

7 October 2009
NGO’s Comments on the classification of CFLs and their mercury content ((RoHS Annex review)

31 August 2009
Letter to Member States
Summary table
NGOs Consolidated comments on RoHS review, concerning mercury in lamps
Annexes

6 July 2009
EEB input to EU storage project - “Requirements for facilities and acceptance criteria for the disposal of metallic mercury”

3 April 2009
EEB-GPI response to consultant's report on mercury in lamps under the RoHS annex review

13 March 2009
EEB/ZMWG comments on labelling concerning foodstuff containing mercury - EC proposed Reg. on food information to consumers



More

 
What's New

EEB comments on Revised draft final BiPRO study on mercury storage
2 February 2010

Environment and Health NGOs comments on labelling of foodstuffs: Environment Committee’s report on the proposed regulation on food information to consumers
26 January 2010

EEB comments on draft final BiPRO study on mercury storage
15 December 2009

PR: Breakthrough reached on 'Phasing Down' dental mercury use, at W.H.O. meeting.
18 November 2009

PR: Time to pull mercury out of fillings, say Health and Green groups to W.H.O. (also in FR, DE, ES)
16 November 2009

NGOs letter to WHO on dental amalgam
Additional signatories
13 November 2009

EEB-HCWH Letter to Commissioners 'Environmental and Health NGOs call for a rapid process to phase out of mercury-containing blood pressure devices in healthcare'
13 November 2009

NEW Publication
Report from the conference 'EU Mercury phase out in Measuring and Control Equipment'
October 2009

PR: Time to end use of mercury-based blood pressure devices
27 October 2009

PR: World Governments Move Towards Global Treaty on Mercury
23 October 2009

Zero Mercury Working Group Quick Views on a successful OEWG 3 on mercury
also available in Portuguese, Arabic, Russian and French
19 October 2009

Mercury in lamps
NGO’s Comments on the classification of CFLs and their mercury content ((RoHS Annex review)
7 October 2009

Letter to Member States
Summary table
NGOs Consolidated comments on RoHS review, concerning mercury in lamps
Annexes
31 August 2009


JOIN THE
ZERO MERCURY WORKING GROUP!


Application form
ZMWG Guiding Principles

 

                   

PR: Breakthrough reached on 'Phasing Down' dental mercury use, at W.H.O. meeting.
18 November 2009

PR: Time to pull mercury out of fillings, say Health and Green groups to W.H.O.
16 November 2009

PR: Time to end use of mercury-based blood pressure devices
27 October 2009

PR: World Governments Move Towards Global Treaty on Mercury
23 October 2009

PR: Green groups celebrate end of energy wasting lightbulbs, but demand clear consumer information
28 August 2009

PR: Turning up the pressure:Phasing out mercury measuring devices in hospitals
18 June 2009


More

         
Zero Marcury Campaign 2005 Contact: Elena Lymberidi, Zero Mercury Campaign Project Coordinator, EEB, elena.lymberidi@eeb.org, T:+32 2 2891301
The EEB receives a special grant from the Sigrid Rausing Trust for this activity. EEB gratefully acknowledges financial support from the European Commission