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

June 27, 2008, Brussels
EEB conference: "Mercury-containing lamps under the spotlight"  

September 15-19, 2008, Dakar, Senegal
Pre-meetings 13-14 September 2008
Intergovernmental Forum for Chemical Safety
Global Partnerships for Chemical Safety
Contributing to the 2020 Goal
Forum VI

October 6-10, 2008, Nairobi, Kenya (tentative)
UNEP Second Open Ended Working Group on Mercury




11 December 2007
Early comments of Environmental NGOs on the EC Working Document on possible ecodesign requirements for fluorescent lamps without integrated ballast, for ballasts and luminaires used with these lamps, and on the conditions for the indication of suitability of lighting products for office lighting

2 August 2007
EEB response to RoHS consultation on exemption of mercury in plasma displays


July 17, 2007
NGOs letter to UNEP, in response to UNEP’s request for comments on strengthening mercury partnerships,
per the UNEP Governing Council Decision 24/3.

July 9, 2007
Zero Mercury Working Group comments for UNEP air emission report


 
NGOS call for a broad export ban
(letter to EC Commissioners)
[24 April 2008]

On course for full EU mercury export ban
[26, March 2008]

Short Report from the NGO meeting and OEWG on Mercury, Bangkok, Thailand,
11-16 November 2007

First Steps towards streamlining global solutions on mercury

[16, November 2007]

JOIN THE
ZERO MERCURY WORKING GROUP!

Invitation
Application form

                   

First Steps towards streamlining global solutions on mercury
[16, November 2007]

“Saga is over”: mercury in most measuring devices will soon be history
[10 July 2007]

EU mercury export ban advances, safer liquid mercury storage now being considered
[June 28 , 2007]

EU Parliament votes for wide export ban and temporary storage of mercury

Le Parlement européen élargit l'interdiction des exportations de mercure et soutient le
stockage temporaire du mercure liquide

[20 June 2007]

PR: Trouble in store. EU must safely manage excess mercury.

Quecksilber: EU muss komplettes Exportverbot beschließen

Stopper et stocker : pour une gestion sûre du mercure excédentaire européen

La UE debe asegurar un almacenamiento seguro del mercurio

SUOMEN PONNISTELTAVA EU:N ELOHOPEASÄÄNNÖSTEN TIUKENTAMISEKSI

Smaltimento del mercurio: l’Europa opti per uno stoccaggio temporaneo e controllato

Parar de usar e armazenar – a União Européia precisa gerenciar com
segurança o excesso de mercúrio

[12 June 2007]

         
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