Mercury Policy Project

11/16/06 The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is considering selling some 1,300 tons of surplus mercury on the international market, prompting urgent warnings from health organizations such as NRDC and MPP that the toxic metal would easily find its way back into the domestic food chain from the developing world. The DOE stockpile is more than eight times the amount exported in 2004 by all U.S. companies combined. Once used in weapons and other energy-related technologies, the mercury is now obsolete for DOE functions and no longer of any use to the government. Exported mercury also poses a substantial direct health risk to workers around the world, said Michael Bender, director of the Mercury Policy Project. "As many as 15 million gold miners in more than 40 countries, for example, are at risk from high-concentration mercury vapors and mercury intoxication, which can lead to severe nervous system poisoning," he said. "The U.S. government has a moral obligation to restrict its exports to developing countries, as the European Union recently proposed to do by 2011."

11/13/06 Today, US Senator Barack Obama sent a letter to US Dept. of Energy Secretary Samuel W. Bodman requesting clarification on recent reports that DOE is considering the sale of its 1300+ tons of its surplus mercury currently stored at its Oak Ridge, TN facility. "Given that mercury is a trans-boundary pollutant that is deposited both locally and globally, any strategy to reduce mercury in the environment must also include reducing the volume of mercury traded and solid in the world market," states the letter from Senator Obama. Senator Obama has expressed concerns about global mercury issues and has introduced the Mercury Market Minimization Act (S. 3627), which would ban the export of surplus mercury from the US, similar to the proposal to ban mercury exports described below by the European Commission. The EC recently hosted an international conference on managing international supply and demand of mercury (see online presentations), including a presentation from MPP director Michael Bender. Policy makers, industry representatives, non-governmental organizations and scientists participated in this event. The conference brought together experts and stakeholders from around the world to discuss, in an open dialogue, the way forward to reduce mercury supply and demand.

11/6/06 MPP and an number of other health and environmental groups concerned with mercury pollution and with health risks to people today provided comment to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on its "Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC): Revisions to the WIC Packages- Proposed Rule." While applauding USDA for its proposed rule to discontinue WIC offerings of "white" canned tuna, we strongly recommend that "light" canned tuna also be eliminated from the WIC program. Recent tests indicate that some light canned tuna has similarly high mercury levels—or higher levels—than "white" canned tuna and therefore, underr the Institute of Medicine criteria, would indeed "pose a mercury hazard."

10/31/06 As the U.S. considers surplus mercury issues, NGOs welcomed an EU regulation to ban mercury exports and ensure safe storage of surplus mercury so that this dangerous neurotoxin will not re-enter the global market. The proposed EU export ban sends a clear message to world governments and the upcoming UNEP Governing Council meeting in February 2007 that mercury exports should be curtailed globally, say NGOs. Mercury trade to over 50 developing countries, according to EU reports exposes miners to severe health impacts when used in gold mining and also pollutes the global environment, according to the UNIDO Global Mercury Project . "We've got to stop the cycle of toxic trade and contamination which ends up polluting our lunch sandwiches and dinners in the US," said Michael Bender of MPP and Zero Mercury Working Group (see coverage). "The Commission recognized that it is very important that mercury supply and demand are addressed simultaneously." The U.S. EPA has stated that it will initiate discussions on the surplus mercury issue in its Roadmap on Mercury in 2006. "Ultimately, it will be important to look at ways to permanently "retire" non-federally owned or managed commodity-grade mercury that will eventually have little or even negative economic value," states the Roadmap. The Department of Defense has decided to permanently store, rather than sell, over 4,000 tons of surplus mercury.

10/16/06 As the Institute of Medicine announces the release of a new report on Oct.17, Seafood Choices: Balancing Benefits and Risks, advocates are questioning the process that the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) used in selecting committee members. At the beginning of the process, MPP and other advocates wrote a letter expressing concerns over the selection of a consumer representative who had close ties with food producing companies. Advocates also met with IOM, and suggested that the IOM committee was unbalanced, pointing out that all but one member of the Committee was a nutritionist and that the overall emphasis of the Committee work focus on nutritional benefits rather than the risk of exposure to toxins like mercury.

Since then, it has come to light (see pages 11 & 12 of the report) that the one scientist on the committee with experience in reviewing health effects of mercury had published a report, two months before being appointed to the NAS committee, that was funded by the US Tuna Foundation and the National Food Processors Association Research Foundation. In the study for the fishing industry, this scientist concluded that pregnant women who reduced fish consumption instead of substituting low-mercury fish for high-mercury species would be doing more harm than good for their developing fetus. The study appeared in the academic literature, complete with disclosure of its funding sources, months after the Committee's work got underway.

9/26/06 Federal health advisers to the FDA have rejected a government report that mercury tooth fillings are safe, saying that the conclusion is not reasonable. The panel also stated that a large federal review of data fails to clearly and objectively present the current body of knowledge on the subject. During the two day hearing in early September, dozens of people—including activists, citizens, dentists and dental assistants—complained of ill health effects that they attribuuted to mercury fillings.

Along with others, MPP's director testified before the 25 Member panel on September 7th. MPP also showed 7 minutes of a documentary from Norway called Mercury Girls which showed historical film of Norwegian dental nurses (assistants) working with amalgam in their bare hands. In 2005 the Norwegian Broadcasting Company examined complaints of dental nurses who had high levels of mercury. The reports of high mercury exposure was shocking. In the study results between the dental nurses and a control group, the results even surprised the scientists. 25% of the dental nurses reported having neurological problems. 36% of the dental nurses had tremors compared to 8% in the control group. 14% of the dental nurses had problems with memory vs the control group having no problems with memory. 18% of the dental nurses were depressed compared to 4% in the control group. 21% of the dental nurses had heart and lung problems, compared to 5 % of the control group. After the dental nurses saw the documentary in Norway and Denmark, they reported that their offspring was affected too, and a second documentary was produced, entitled Mercury Children. Bender's presentation concluded with recommendations that 1) amalgam placement needs to be banned during pregnancy and 2) dental assistants should be placed on leave during pregnancy.

9/6/06 As an FDA hearing gets underway regarding the safety of amalgam, advocates are petitioning FDA to ban mercury tooth fillings in pregnant women to protect unborn children from unnecessary exposure to mercury. The groups point out that placement of dental mercury has already been banned in many countries, and amalgam makers warn dentists about putting it in pregnant women and children. "As most everyone knows, the developing fetus is most at risk from mercury." said Michael Bender, director of the Mercury Policy Project. "So why isn't FDA joining Health Canada and other countries in banning its placement in pregnant women?"

According to the petition, encapsulated dental amalgam arrives at a dentist's office with skull and cross bones affixed next to the words "POISON, CONTAINS METALLIC MERCURY." Mercury, the warning states, is a "potentially hazardous substance" with "neurotoxic/nephrotoxic effects"; "a chemical known to the state of California to cause birth defects or other reproductive harm." The two largest amalgam manufacturers – Kerrr and Dentsply advise dentists away from placing amalgam in pregnant women, nursing mothers, children under six, and anyone with kidney disease. Kerr, the largest mercury amalgam manufacturer in the American market, warns dentists:

8/4/06 An NGO led forum, "Finding Solutions to the Global Mercury Crisis" will be held, August 7th – 10th in Madison, Wisconsin to highlight actions necessary to reduce mercury pollution and its impacts. Advocates from 18 international environment and health policy organizations will focus on available, effective, common sense solutions that will reduce mercury releases and environmental and public health benefits. This conference will be held simultaneously with a global mercury science meeting. Early drafts of a "synthesis manuscript" which the science meeting conferees will release on the final day of the meeting suggest that the conference outcome may emphasize uncertainties about mercury rather than recommendations for action or specific solutions to known mercury problems.

"The fact that mercury presents adverse local and global effects warranting immediate action has already been acknowledged by the United Nations and a host of countries," said MPP Director Michael Bender (see press release). "By hosting our meeting alongside the science conference, we hope that participants will come away with more concrete solutions to reduce mercury pollution and its impacts." At their meeting, the NGOs will demonstrate that the mercury crisis is a solvable problem and that use and pollution reduction alternatives are cost effective and available. Co-sponsors of the NGO meeting will relay new evidence on the prevalence of mercury in fish, an American and global diet staple, and the risks of exposure from consumption of those fish.

7/11/06 In light of new testing by Defenders of Wildlife showing higher-than-expected levels of mercury in canned light tuna, advocates are urging US agencies to take more precautionary measures to protect low income and vulnerable Americans from exposure to mercury. "The US Government should stop subsidizing the tuna industry at the expense of exposing America's poorest and most vulnerable to mercury, a known neurotoxin," said Michael Bender, director of the Mercury Policy Project. "Like in Hawaii, we recommend that other animal protein substitutes be offered in Federal low income food assistance programs."

"According to the US Department of Agriculture, canned tuna is the fish most consumed by pregnant women and children—hence it is probably their largest exposure to mercury," said Bender. "Yet USDA's Women, Infant and Children program (WIC) provides over 8 million low-income women and children with 26 ounces of tuna per family per month, based on Food & Drug Administration advice which mistakenly assumes that all light tuna has low mercury levels."

6/15/06 The Global "Zero Mercury Working Group, EEB, NRDC, NWF, Toxics Link, Clean Wisconsin, Madison Environmental Justice Organization, MPP and several other health and environmental NGO groups are hosting an international meeting on mercury in Madison, Wisconsin, Aug.7-10, 2006. Also, during nearly the same time, the 8th International Conference on Mercury as a Global Pollutant will be held directly adjacent to our meeting location. The ICMGP is a conference that mainly attracts scientists and researchers. While traditionally this meeting has focused on science, it increasingly is expanding into "socio-economic" issues. Our aim is to host a parallel meeting on mercury intended to complement the ICMGP and also include issues that may not be on the agenda, or presented from the NGO perspective, and will focus on a solutions-oriented agenda. To the extent possible, "cross pollination" is being encouraged between the two meetings. We welcome and support such interactions and invite ICMGP steering committee and other ICMGP planning committees (and their colleagues) to attend our opening plenary on Monday night where we will have an opportunity to reflect on the 50 anniversary of Minimata.

4/24/06 Characterizing dental mercury as "safe" based on two studies in the Journal of the American Medical Association is both unfortunate and unscientific, say advocates and a leading scientist. "The authors admit that their studies did not address genetic sensitivity to mercury and subtle neurological problems arising from exposure that may occur over time," said MPP Director Michael Bender. "The studies also failed to examine the risks to the developing fetus when the mother is exposed to amalgam." In an accompanying JAMA editorial, Dr. Herbert L. Needleman of the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine said that the studies could not detect the effects of toxic exposure over time nor the subtle effects of those with a genetic vulnerability to mercury. "It is predictable that some outside interests will expand the modest conclusions of these studies to assert that use of mercury amalgam in dentistry is risk-free," Dr. Herbert Needleman wrote. "This conclusion would be unfortunate and unscientific."

4/14/06 Maine's new thermostat bounty collection law is the nation's first financial incentive to recycle building thermostats that contain mercury, and the first law to require thermostat collection for do-it-yourselfers. The new law mandates that all mercury thermostats be recycled, and provides a financial incentive with a minimum value of $5 on each one turned in. The law requires all manufacturers that sold mercury thermostats in Maine to develop a recycling program. Currently, only the three largest thermostat manufacturers (Honeywell, General Electric, and White-Rodgers) operate such a program through Thermostat Recycling Corporation. "We feel an obligation to do as much as possible to reduce the potential environmental impacts from our products all across their lifecycle," said Mark Kohorst, TRC Executive Director. "We are encouraged by this joint effort to capture as many mercury thermostats as possible." Over the coming months, stakeholders will work out a program for contractors and installers to turn in the devices, followed by a program for homeowners. These plans will encourage the purchase of non-mercury Energy Star qualified thermostats as replacements. The law sets recycling targets and prohibits wholesalers and retailers from selling any thermostat from a manufacturer that is not in compliance with the law. Maine's annual goal of 160 pounds of mercury per year within three years after Phase 2 begins- equates a goal of removing 90% of all mercury thermostats. Maine's Bill Text (LD 1792: An Act to Protect ME Families and the Environment by Improving the Collection and Recycling of Mercury Thermostats)

4/12/06 While traveling in China, EPA chief Steve Johnson criticized China for polluting the United States with mercury pollution, stating that "Pollution – especially mercury polllution – knows no international borders," according to press reports from the capital. Yet this stance is hypocritical, say advocates. "Not only has the U.S. failed to take meaningful steps to clean up mercury power plant emissions at home, but they have consistently blocked international discussions that could have already led to global agreements on reducing mercury pollution," said MPP Director Michael Bender in a press release. In a recent press account, the US EPA Administrator now says that he was misquoted in apparent response to the Chinese rebuttal about pollution. According to other news stories, it's unfair to blame India and China alone for mercury pollution problems: see WatchingAmerica.com, DNA World, and The Post Chronicle.

For more information, consider the following: Clearing the Air On "Clear Skies” and Governments Miss Chance to Develop an International Strategy to Address Global Mercury Crisis.

4/7/06 For the first time, FDA will hold hearings on the neurotoxic effects of amalgam. In so doing, according to advocates, FDA has finally begun to pry control of this issue away from dental associations by empowering a neurology-based advisory committee to hear evidence on the issue. "Dentists aren't qualified to make decisions concerning neurotoxic effects of mercury," said Michael Bender of the Mercury Policy Project. "But it's been like pulling teeth to get FDA to take control of this issue out of the hands of mercury dentists." While amalgam makers warn dentists about mercury amalgam, these risks aren't passed on to patients, said Bender. Warnings from amalgam maker Dentsply/Caulk states: "The use of amalgam is contraindicated. In children 6 and under..." and "...In expectant mothers." And Kerr, Inc. warns: "The health authorities of the various countries, including Canada, Germany, France, the United Kingdom and Austria have recommended against the placement or removal of an amalgam in certain individuals such as pregnant and nursing women and persons with impaired kidney function."

4/6/06 Norway is moving closer to banning all uses of mercury with Helen Bjørnøy, the Norwegian environment minister, recently instructing the Norwegian pollution control authority (SFT) to draft a legislative proposal for a ban on the general use of mercury. In order to be exempted from the ban, the ministry said, producers and distributors will have to prove "that the continued use of mercury is absolutely necessary." Targets of the ban include dental mercury fillings, lighting and metering devices. The move follows publication exactly a year ago of an A plan of action was published on year ago, and calls for reducing releases of mercury "in all phases, from industrial emissions to waste treatment."

4/3/06 In a letter to the world's government that was also sent to MPP and other NGOs, the U.N. Environment Program is requesting information related to the supply, trade and demand for mercury for a report being developed for the upcoming UNEP Governing Council meeting in Nairobi next February. The request for the report came out of a decision that the UNEP Governing Council made at their prior meeting, which was put forth by Canada at the request of MPP. At that time, the UNEP Governing Council requested that UNEP Executive Director "..develop further the mercury programme...by initiating, preparing and making public a report summarizing supply, trade and demand information for mercury, including in artisanal and small-scale gold mining, and, based on a consideration of life-cycle approach, to submit a document forming a basis for consideration of possible further action in those areas for consideration of the Governing Council at its twenty-fourth session..."

3/30/06 Several Vermont groups recently wrote VT Government Jim Douglas, urging him to take a leadership role in support of including two key provisions in the Department of Environment Conservation final Best Management Practices for dental clinics: 1) to use alternatives to mercury fillings when appropriate and 2) to notify patients about mercury-free dental fillings and those containing mercury, prior to treatment. "Dental clinics in Vermont should do what other New England states, the Zogby poll, the Advisory Committee —and common sense—suggests," said MPP Director Bender. "As required in Maine, New Hampshire, California, and recently included in Connecticut's new dental BMPs, Vermont dentists should provide patients with a fact sheet that plainly explains that amalgam is mainly mercury, that amalgam releases mercury in the mouth, that the mercury released can later get taken up in fish—and that children and pregnant women are most at risk from exposure." In response to Vermont dentists' opposition to this, several letters have been written. (See Reduce mercury for health, environment, MY TURN: Get the mercury out, and My Turn: Reduce mercury)

While not mentioning that amalgams contain 50 percent mercury, even the American Dental Association (ADA) provides dentists with a chart of the various dental restorative materials. In the October 2003 Journal of the American Dental Association, the ADA recommends that dentists inform their patients. "As every dentist knows, it is a good risk management practice to discuss the risks and benefits of a proposed treatment plan with a patient before starting treatment. In many cases, the dentist has a corresponding legal obligation to obtain informed consent from a patient before beginning treatment."

3/20/06 Last week, the European parliament adopted a strong resolution calling on the European Union to take greater strides to reduce mercury use, release, trade and exposure. The resolution is the parliament's response to an EU mercury strategy proposed last year by the European commission. On point after point, the parliament called for actions to be strengthened or brought forward, including a ban on export of mercury by 2010, instead of 2011, and an additional requirement for the EU to begin tracking trade in mercury from 2008.

The parliament went even further on mercury reduction mandates for the chlor-alkali industry, calling for a phase-out deadline of 2010--rather than 2020-- as proposed by the commission. The resolution also demands legal controls to ensure safe storage of surplus mercury and a requirement for the sector to co-finance safe storage. In addition, the resolution calls the EU to curb mercury emissions from large and small-scale combustion processes, restrictions on mercury use in gold mining and for the EU to develop a labeling approach for gold produced in third countries. In addition, prompted in part by the green group, the resolution now also calls for EU legislation restricting the use of mercury in dental amalgam to be proposed by next year, measures to control mercury emissions from crematoria and an evaluation on the use of mercury in vaccines "with a view to a total ban." Environmental groups, including the Mercury Policy Project, applauded the resolution. "The European parliament has sent a clear message to Europe - and the world - about further steps needed to reduce the use of mercury", four groups said in a statement.

3/17/06 Prompted by state legislation, the U.S. battery industry recently announced plans to eliminate added mercury in all button batteries by June 30, 2011. The announcement, by the American National Standards Institute, states that battery makers will devote resources to resolve manufacturing challenges and to continue to advance emerging technologies. Button cells are currently the only remaining type of battery that contains added mercury. The liquid element had been widely added to batteries to reduce internal gas formations that lead to leakage and shorter shelf life. But due to growing environmental concerns, the battery industry worked to develop alternative products.

3/9/06 This week, representatives from the automobile and auto recycling industries, environmental community, states and the US EPA reached a tentative agreement on elements of a national program for recovering up to 80 tons of mercury switches from scrapped automobiles, most of which now ends up in our air when auto scrap is remelted in steel recycling plants. Auto switches from pre-2003 automobiles represent the largest manufacturing source of mercury, surpassed only by coal-fired power plants and municipal incinerators. The agreement, once finalized, would provide a major commitment of resources from automakers, steel companies, auto recyclers and government agencies to aggressively address this significant environmental and public health problem.

2/25/06 Reductions in mercury supply and demand, as described in chapter 6 of the State of the World 2006 and briefly summarized by co-author and MPP Director Bender, can deliver a 50% reduction in mercury demand by 2010 and as much as an 80% reduction by 2015, using year 2000 as the baseline. These reductions can be initially accomplished through a variety of mechanisms, including voluntary actions, legislation, and aid packages. They can also include national, bilateral, and regional arrangements. Yet the need to coordinate and ensure commitments from all the significant public and private global actors will require a binding, global agreement on mercury in the near future, which will be one of the options considered at the next UN Environment Program Governing Council meeting in February 2007.

Our proposed strategy would eliminate all major sources of mercury supply in the global market by 2010, which is consistent with an emerging EU Strategy on Mercury that is expected to result in an export ban on mercury, storage of surplus mercury and closure of the worldâ€™s largest mercury mine. Additionally, since the global need for energy is expanding so quickly, an aggressive mercury control strategy for new and existing coal fired power plants is crucial to adequately reducing the global mercury load. To achieve this goal, international action should also focus on installing Best Available Technology for mercury emission controls for major coal-fired plants by no later than 2012, and for all other coal-fired power plants by 2017.

2/14/06 Most all Americans – 92 percent – want "informed conconsent" about potential risks from mercury in dental fillings or alternatives before any treatment begins, according to a new poll by Zogby International. "It's very rare that you find 92% of the American public in favor of anything," said the pollster, John Zogby. "This shows the issue is real, and it really ought to be a wakeup call to dentists and politicians."

The poll also finds that 76% of consumers still don't know that any "silver" fillings in their mouths contain mercury. And 77 % of those polled would choose alternatives to mercury fillings, even if they cost more. Additional results include:

The poll was conducted for MPP and paid for by the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology. "While most Americans don't know what's in their teeth, nearly everyone wants to be filled in—before they're drilledd and billed," MPP director Michael Bender said in a written statement.

2/7/06 As a result of Executive Order 13101, a U. S. federal interagency task force developed a priority list of chemicals that may result in significant harm to human health and the environment and included on that list were 15 targeted chemicals, which included (you guessed it!) mercury. Specifically mentioning laws passed in ME, CT and RI and using references from the State of ME and Lowell (among others), they identified the following product categories where "Environmental Attribute Non-Mercury Alternatives" are available, including cost and technical comparisons:

1/23/06 Included in the Vermont Advisory Committee on Mercury Pollution reports to the Governor, General Assembly and Citizens of the State of Vermont are recommendations to reduce exposure to mercury from dental fillings, vaccines containing thimerosal and fish sold at retail. Specifically, the Committee recommended that:

These recommendations are similar to legislation recently introduced into the VT Legislature that would seek to accomplish this by Rep. Carol Hosford and Senator Virgina Lyons. In addition, these Legislators recently sent a letter to the VT congressional delegation concerning federal legislation to preempt these state exposure reduction initiative and requesting assistance "..to reinstate and preserve the State of Vermont's abilities to convey important information to consumers and assist in reducing human exposure risks to mercury."

1/16/06 With the support of MPP and 13 other environmental and health groups from Canada, US, EU and internationally, Pollution Probe recently wrote a letter to the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment, urging them "...to immediately develop and implement a mercury elimination and reduction strategy for Canada." The letter urges the Canadian government to pursue the same level of commitment like a number of jurisdictions worldwide by phasing out mercury uses, increase the collection of mercury from products, and develop and adopt a national mercury strategy and take a leadership role internationally in a manner that promotes aggressive but realistic goals. A new legal analysis confirms that Canada can move forward to phase out mercury products now.

12/29/05 A report from a consortium of northeastern government agencies states that over 10,000 pounds of mercury are still released to the air in northeast states each year. The NESCAUM report points to several substantial sources of mercury pollution that have not yet been adequately addressed. The report shows that waste incineration and dental mercury use account for over one-third of the mercury pollution still occurring in the region, while another 20% is emitted from coal-fired power plants across the region. "Its clear from the NESCAUM report that government agencies need to do a far better job of controlling mercury releases that result from burning trash and dental fillings, and power plant emissions" said Michael Bender from MPP. "While the report shows an overall reduction, the problem with mercury pollution is that there is no safe level of exposure. We need the New England governors to recommit their efforts to eliminate mercury emissions altogether."

All six New England states have been working on varying initiatives to ban mercury containing products and require manufacturers to pay for their proper collection and disposal to prevent further pollution. However, both MA and NH have yet to require mercury product phase outs. The report also indicates that electric utilities cause nearly 20% of mercury air emissions. New York and New Hampshire continue to lag behind the other northeastern states and leave these major mercury sources unaddressed.

12/6/05 Commissioned by Oceana and the Mercury Policy Project and written by mercury and environmental health expert Edward Groth, PhD, a new report summarizes decades of scientific research indicating that mercury levels in fish are high enough to pose health risks to moderate and heavy fish eaters and exposes weaknesses in recent reports from the Harvard Center for Risk Analysis (HCRA), which were funded by the tuna industry and other fishing interests. The report release coincides with an international Seafood and Health Conference in Washington, D.C. sponsored by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Fisheries Ministries of Norway, Iceland and Canada. Dozens of conservation organizations in the U.S. and Europe have registered formal complaints about the conference due to the scant attention to mercury risks in the agenda. The Groth report is packed with information, including six key findings:

"We commissioned this study because the industry is using its considerable resources to mislead the public about the mercury problem in order to sell more fish. This conference is a good example of where the risks of mercury are being given short shrift," said Michael Bender, MPP's Director said in a written statement.

12/5/05 MPP and a number of other health, consumer and environmental groups recently wrote a letter asking FDA to urge all states to adopt a point-of-purchase advisory on seafood containing mercury. In 2003, Commissioner McClellan wrote to CSPI and said that "One of the key needs for an advisory to be successful is for it to be clear and well-communicated. There are many ways that this can be achieved, including the use of printed materials at the point-of-purchase." The groups also believe that FDA should develop a point-of-purchase communication that would be very effective in targeting high-risk consumers with a message on methylmercury in seafood, and should be used in conjunction with the agency's current advisory which warns pregnant women to not eat certain fish and limit consumption of white canned tuna due to mercury exposure concerns.

9/15/05 In response to the release of our recent report (see below) on Fair Warning: Why Grocery Stores Should Tell Parents about Mercury in Fish, a spokesperson for the Food Marketing Institute (a trade group that represents the supermarket industry) appears receptive to our recommendation for FDA to test seafood known to have high mercury levels more regularly and also states that their supermarket store members are "either engaged in doing or are in the process of" posting mercury warnings where swordfish and tuna are sold, and also expects "more information and signs at the point of purchase," according to recent press reports:

9/15/05 A coalition led by Oceana and the MPP released the results of a major, 22-state mercury testing project, confirming that store-bought swordfish and tuna contain levels of mercury that the federal government has determined may be hazardous to human health, particularly children. The analysis was more comprehensive than any recently performed by FDA and included samples purchased at popular supermarket chains such as Safeway, Shaw's, Albertsons, Trader Joes and Whole Foods--all stores that are required to post mercury warnings in California.

Swordfish and tuna samples were tested at the University of North Carolina's Environmental Quality Institute between July 7 and August 11. An average mercury concentration of 1.1 parts per million (ppm) was found in 24 swordfish samples tested. That level exceeds the FDA Action level of 1.0 ppm for commercial fish, which is the limit at which the agency can take legal action to remove a product from the market. The groups also reported that mercury concentrations in samples of fresh or frozen tuna steaks averaged 0.33 ppm, a level comparable to that of canned albacore tuna, a fish specifically targeted for limited consumption by women of childbearing age and children in the 2004 joint advisory from the FDA and EPA. The second page of the FDA/EPA advisory has similar consumption advice for tuna steaks.

"Pregnant women and parents of young children need point-of-sale warnings to make informed choices about the fish they purchase," said Michael Bender, MPP director in a written statement. "Based on our test results a 44-pound child eating six ounces of tuna weekly would be four times over the EPA's reference dose, and a 120-pound woman eating just six ounces of tuna weekly would be eating one and one-half times EPA's reference dose." The EPA reference dose is an estimation of the amount of methylmercury that, if consumed, would not be expected to cause an appreciable risk of adverse health effects over a lifetime.

9/1/05 The US tuna industry has apparently enlisted FDA in their fight against a CA AG lawsuit that would require information on mercury in canned tuna posted in CA stores. An August 12 FDA letter argues that the warnings CA AG Bill Lockyer is seeking are pre-empted under federal law. In response, Lockyer disputed FDA assertions in an August 30 letter.

"The federal government has no authority to prevent California, or any state, from requiring warnings," said Tom Dresslar, spokesman for CA AG in recent press accounts. Dresslar said many people never see FDA advisories, and providing a posted warning in a would inform consumers. He also said that the letter's timing appeared designed to "squash" California's lawsuit. The tuna industry has made known its plans to ask the judge to find that Proposition 65 is pre-empted by federal law well before the FDA letter was sent to the CA AG. A year ago, the three largest canned tuna companies were sued to enforce Proposition 65, California's 1986 law requiring businesses to provide "disclosure before exposure" to such toxins as mercury. The companies are Tri-Union Seafoods, maker of Chicken of the Sea; Del Monte, maker of Starkist; and Bumble Bee Seafoods, maker of Bumble Bee. A San Francisco Superior Court trial date is set for Oct. 19.

"Our test results confirmed what FDA has known for well over a decade; white tuna has much higher mercury levels than light tuna, with samples at the 1 part per million FDA action level. This is the level FDA uses to recall fish from the marketplace," said Bender.

Canned tuna is consumed in 90 percent of American households and accounts for over 20 percent of US seafood consumption. Children eat more than twice as much tuna as any other fish, and canned tuna is the most frequently consumed fish among women of child bearing age, according to the report findings.

Albacore accounts for about one-third of all canned tuna sold in the U.S. The independent testing found that mercury levels in white canned tuna averaged over 0.5 ppm. How much fish a person can eat before exceeding the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) "virtual safe limit," called a reference dose (RfD), depends on body weight and mercury content of the fish. For example:

In response to drooping sales, the fishing industry is planning a $25 million ad campaign next Spring to convince consumers to eat more canned tuna, according to news reports.

6/26/05 MPP and other NGOs recently received a reply from Klaus Topfer, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Program concerning their request to clear up an apparent misunderstanding that has arisen concerning rules of engagement for the NGO community during the Nairobi meeting of the chemicals workgroup on mercury and other matters. Specifically, there appeared to be uncertainty in some quarters as to whether the NGO community was barred altogether from speaking during the workgroup meeting, or simply told to wait their turn after all governments representatives spoke.

NGOs wrote to set the record straight that the bar on interventions was absolute and was not limited to properly sequencing comments. The NGOs present at the workgroup meeting were explicitly and repeatedly instructed not to speak during the workgroup meeting, under penalty of expulsion from the meeting room altogether. There were some instances where an exception was made during the multitude of hours the workgroup met, but these interventions were prefaced by remarks that they involved the US "partnership" proposal and NGOs were intended to participate in the partnerships. NGOs noted in their letter that it was ironic that the US came to the table in Nairobi promoting voluntary partnerships that included NGO participation, yet they opposed any formal NGO involvement in the very workgroup meeting where the role and structure of the partnerships was under discussion. NGOs also presented the formal statement they gave during a Plenary Session of the UNEP Governing Council meeting in Nairobi.

6/24/05 NGOs welcomed the support of the Council of the EU Environment Ministers on the Community Strategy on Mercury as a courageous and positive step forward towards reducing global mercury pollution. Consistent with the export ban, the Council confirmed the need for parallel action to ensure the safe storage of mercury including that from decommissioned chlor-alkali production facilities, sending a global message stressing the need to break the mercury cycle by stopping any surpluses of mercury from re-entering the market.

"This agreement banning mercury exports demonstrates strong EU leadership on global mercury issues. It also sets the stage for international negotiations on mercury, where the possibility of a legally binding instrument and other global mercury strategies will be discussed." said Michael Bender, Ban Mercury Working Group.

With respect to strategic actions at international level, the NGOs commend the Council for recognizing that a viable EU mercury strategy is most effective within a global strategic framework. In this regard, the Council has stressed the need for the EU to continue and strengthen its international efforts to reduce mercury emissions and exposure on a global scale with a view to reaching a global phase-out of primary production, preventing surpluses re-entering the market, as well as to phase out mercury use and trade, taking into account the availability of alternatives. Underlining the need for EU support to developing countries, or countries with economies in transition, in promoting actions to reduce mercury emissions from coal combustion, among others, is also of great importance.

5/23/05 A new study from Mount Sinai on the economic consequences of mercury poisoning was recently released in Environmental Health Perspectives. Using national blood mercury data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the study's authors found that between 316,588 and 637,233 children each year have cord blood mercury levels > 5.8 Âµg/L, a level associated with loss of IQ. They then estimated that the resulting loss of intelligence causes diminished economic productivity that persists over the entire lifetime of these children amounts to $8.7 billion annually (range, $2.2ˆ43.8 billion; all costs are in 2000 US$). Of this total, $1.3 billion (range, $0.1ˆ6.5 billion) each year is attributable to mercury emissions from American power plants, according to the study. In their abstract, the authors state that this significant toll threatens the economic health and security of the United States and should be considered in the debate on mercury pollution controls. Unfortunately, note the authors, the EPA recently proposed to slow this progress, citing high costs of pollution abatement.

4/8/05 Nearly fifty years after the poisoing epidemic in Minimata, the Japanes government finally apologized for not adequately compensating victims and announced that those poisoned by mercury in Minimata will receive free medical care and other financial aid. "We remain in solidarity with the Minimata community and their many years of suffering, stigma and government denial," said MPP Director Michael Bender. "The warm welcome provided by the community during our visit in 2001 will always be cherished."

Since the 1950s thousands of Japanese have contracted Minamata disease--a degenerative neurological disorder caused by mercury poisoning--from eating tainted fish. According to government figures, 2,955 people contracted Minamata disease and 1,784 people have since died. Another 12,000 people who were sickened received a one-time government payout, but weren't eligible for free medical care. Currently, around 3,000 people are officially recognized as victims and receive free medical care and compensation. In 2004, Japan's Supreme Court ordered the government and Kumamoto prefecture (state) to pay compensation ranging from 1.5 million yen to 2.5 million yen (US$13,800 to US$23,000; euro (10,730.95 to euro17,884.91) to 37 plaintiffs who were among the 12,000 unrecognized patients. The top court said both governments failed to stop chemical manufacturer Chisso Corp. from dumping mercury compounds into Minamata Bay in the 1930s. Chisso paid some 240 million yen (US$2.2 million; euro1.71 million) in damages to the plaintiffs in 2001. Kudo and Turner (1999) estimated the emissions from 1932 until 1968 to be 190 - 225 tons of mercury entering the ocean from Chisso Corporation in Minamata. The government also announced the establishment of a panel to comprehensively discuss problems related to Minamata disease and to advise on measures that should be taken and also look at the significance of the disease in its historical and social context. For more information, see several related news stories.

4/4/05 A coalition of health and environmental groups today released a report grading the New England states on their efforts to reduce dental mercury pollution. The report's number one recommendation is that dentists reduce their use of mercury fillings in consideration of environmental impacts. "In the short term, if amalgam use were to be drastically reduced, within a decade or so dental mercury releases would be half of what they are now," said Michael Bender, MPP's Director. "Within 15 to 20 years they would be minimal." Of the mercury used in products in the U.S., EPA estimates that dental amalgam comprises 55% of the total—or over 1000 tons of mercury residing in the mouths of Americans today. With the average mercury filling lasting 10-15 years, over 1000 tons of dental mercury will be released into the environment over the next decade or so—if current trends continue.

"For as little as $37 per month, a dentist could prevent over 95% of its mercury from going down the drain through best management practices and amalgam separators," said Bender. "Unfortunately, even though dentists are the number one contributor of mercury to wastewater and the third largest mercury user in the U.S., ADA still opposes installation of amalgam separators." Bender noted that while the ADA supports some best management practices for dentists, it does so primarily as a tactical excuse for dentists not to install separators. Bender also stated that while ADA research clearly shows how well amalgam separators work, just last week ADA boasted on its website that "…organized dentists have successfully staved off the mandatory installation of amalgam separators."

Yet an increasing number of state and national dental associations support amalgam separators. A case in point is in Vermont, where the state dental society has now committed to supporting amalgam separator mandates over a voluntary approach. "It seems clear from the science that amalgam separators do an excellent job at reducing amalgam in wastewater significantly. While no one likes to have mandates put on them, it seems clear to us that we will achieve a much higher level of compliance with mandated separators than a voluntary approach," stated Daniel Ferraris, DMS, Past President of the Vermont State Dental Society, in written testimony provided to the Vermont Senate Natural Resources Committee on February 18, 2005. Also, a national dental society hailed the report's findings. "Even though an increasing number of dentists no longer use mercury, they need to use amalgam separators because they are still removing mercury," said Richard J. Chanin, DMD, President of the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology. "Yet the best way to reduce dental mercury pollution in the future is not to use mercury in the first place." A number of New England dentists hailed the report's release, and a petitioned was signed last October by 125 dentists expressing concerns over environment impacts from amalgams.

3/15/05 In a statement released today on its new Mercury Rule, the EPA states that "We could eliminate all mercury emissions from U.S. coal fired power plants but it wouldn't solve the problem….until global mercury emissions can be reduced…" Yet, hypocritically, EPA neglected to mention that just three weeks ago in Nairobi the Bush Administration failed to support development of a global mercury strategy, according to global NGO groups.

"The Administration is speaking out of both sides of its mouth. Today, they are saying that the only way to solve the US mercury problem is through international action," said Michael Bender of Ban Mercury Working Group, an international NGO coalition. "Yet three weeks ago they hijacked the process and blocked development of a global strategy despite the overwhelming evidence from the U.N. about the need for immediate and long-term international action on mercury. All the U.S. proposed were voluntary mercury partnerships—not reduction goals or anything else. This is sheer hypocrisy." For additional information, see news coverage. Interest in this is growing in the news media, see Baltimore Sun, Inter Press News and Maryland Newsline articles.

NGO groups also maintain that the new Bush EPA Mercury Rule is illegal and will be challenged in court.

3/8/05 A four-year study of Northeastern US and eastern Canada released today found clear and convincing evidence that mercury is polluting wildlife and the environment in ways that were not previously thought possible. The study, financed by the US Department of Agriculture's Northeastern States Research Cooperative, includes 21 papers published in the journal Ecotoxicology, and identifies nine hot spots in the region where mercury levels in animals are alarmingly high and in some cases interfering with some species' reproduction. Hot spots are areas with two or more species having mercury levels surpassing known thresholds for adverse health effects. "The impacts of mercury go well beyond what anyone would have envisioned yesterday," said Michael Bender, MPP director in a statement. "It doesn't look like there are any limits on mercury's reach."

3/3/05 A study released yesterday found that most of the fish sold in supermarkets and fish stores in New Jersey contain more mercury than FDA estimates. Sea bass, whiting, shrimp, and tuna contained higher mean mercury levels than those levels estimated by the FDA on its seafood information website. The mean level found in croaker exceeded the FDA estimate nearly threefold and fresh tuna was up to twice as high as the federal government expects. "The vast majority of people buy their fish in the supermarket," said Dr. Michael Gochfeld, a co-author of the study and mercury specialist at the Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute in Piscataway and a professor at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. "We don't know where it comes from. The supermarket rarely knows where it comes from. The take-home message is: We have to monitor the commercial fish supply." The FDA database appears to be cumulative from work from 1990 to 1992,� the study authors write. The discrepancies suggest that the FDA and state governments should undertake a broad spectrum survey of mercury and other contaminants in fish to update their database. From a state regulatory perspective, data that show discrepancies between local data and FDA data suggests that site-specific data may be required before consumption information or advisories are prepared (see article). EHP is published by the NIEHS, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. EHP is an Open Access journal. More information is available online at www.ehponline.org.

2/28/05 At the UNEP Governing Council meeting on February 25, Environmental Ministers from around the world agreed upon several important steps to reduce global mercury pollution. They recommended actions that individual countries could take to reduce mercury use, trade and release and more research on supply, demand and trade. Yet non-governmental organizations and indigenous peoples expressed concerns that the UNEP mercury agreement fell short of what was needed. "Although there was a strong recognition by developing countries at the meeting of the seriousness of the issue of mercury and the disproportionate impacts it has on them, the international community still is not addressing the crisis in a meaningful and accountable manner." stated Ravi Agarwal, Director of Toxics Link, an environmental NGO in India.

While not supported by the US--and others-- until the very end of the negotiation, several noteworthy recommendations were included, thanks in large part to the G-77 countries. See additional news and information.

2/18/05 A bipartisan group of seven Senators today introduced a Sense of the Senate resolution yesterday urging the Bush Administration to engage constructively in international dialogue on mercury and to prepare a comprehensive strategy to swiftly reduce global mercury pollution and use. The Senators believe the United States should move forward with stronger mercury controls as the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) considers country recommendations for international agreements to limit mercury use, trade, mining, and pollution. These strategies will be considered at the 23rd Session of the UNEP Governing Council, planned for next week in Nairobi, Kenya.

In a press release, Senator Jeffords, the ranking member of the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee said, "The United States should not be sitting on the sidelines on yet another global pollutant as international efforts to control mercury move forward. We have a moral responsibility to do all that we can to protect Americans from global and domestic pollution and should be leading by example, not pretending that voluntary actions will do the job."

The Environmental Council of States (ECOS), a national non-profit, non-partisan association of state and territorial environmental officials, and other state and local government associations, all under the multiparty state work known as the Quicksilver Caucus recently sent a letter to the U.S. EPA stating that ",,,that the US should support a comprehensive binding international agreement with pollution and use reduction goals, milestones, timelines, deadlines and international funding commitments to ensure long-term progress on the issue. Such commitments would be in the national interests of the US."

2/17/05 Environmental NGOs and indigenous nation representatives from around the globe are urging Governments to take action against global mercury pollution by taking immediate steps to reduce mercury contamination, through use and emission reduction, while developing an international binding agreement on mercury (see press release). The above mentioned groups will be participating at the UNEP Governing Council (GC) on 21-25 February 2005 in Nairobi, Kenya, where mercury is on the agenda. Some of them will also participate at the Global Civil Society Forum, 19-20 February, Nairobi, which forms the main entry point for Civil Society to participate at the GC level.

"We urge the UNEP Governing Council to follow the lead of the EU Mercury Strategy, adopted in January 2005," said Elena Lymberidi, "Zero Mercury Campaign" Project Co-ordinator, European Environmental Bureau.

"The European Commission's advocacy of a global phase-out of mercury primary production, and encouraging countries to stop surpluses re-entering the market, by presenting an initiative similar to the Montreal Protocol on ozone-depleting substances, should become the central discussion at the UNEP Governing Council meeting," said Michael Bender of the Ban Mercury Working Group.

2/16/05 An international group of medical doctors, toxicologists, epidemiologists, and public health officials have written a letter to Klaus Toepfer, Executive Director, United Nations Environment Programme regarding the upcoming meeting 21-25 February in Nairobi where the UNEP Governing Council will consider "...the need for further measures to address global mercury pollution, such as the the possibility of a legally binding instrument, a non-legally binding instrument or other actions." Countries, including the U.S., E.U. and Argentina have proposed a series of measures to reduce global mercury pollution for the Governing Council to discuss and debate. In their letter, the international group called the Governing Council "...to develop and implement the best possible plan to dramatically reduce human exposures to this toxic and persistent global contaminant at this time."

2/10/05 The New England Zero Mercury Campaign released a report challenging the New England states to recognize the risks of mercury-switch thermostats, as well as the benefits of non-mercury, energy efficient alternatives, and develop the regulations necessary to prevent the sale and haphazard disposal of mercury containing thermostats. "It's time to phase mercury out of thermostats and other obsolete products," said Michael Bender, MPP's director. "While manufacturers say they have thermostat collection programs in place, it's appalling how few are being collected and how much mercury is being disposed of."

Thermostats that contain mercury contribute to local, regional and global mercury pollution when they are handled and disposed of improperly. Each year an estimated 1,000-2,000 pounds of mercury from thermostats are disposed of haphazardly or illegally throughout New England in landfills, incinerators, and construction and demolition dumps. As a result, the widespread use of electromechanical thermostats with mercury switches poses a significant threat to human health and the environment. The report shows that near 50,000 pounds of the highly toxic heavy metal mercury in the combined New England states.

2/2/05 The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene recently warned (see warning and press release) against the use of creams, soaps and other cosmetic products which contain mercury, following a confirmed case of mercury poisoning in a New York City of a resident who had been using an imported "skin-lightening" cream. The product used contained a type of mercury that is easily absorbed through the skin. While the FDA limit for mercury is 1 part per million (ppm); the tested sample contained more than 6,000 parts per million (ppm) of mercury. The NYC Health Dept. is investigating the availability of these products and is working with the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to test certain creams and other products for mercury content. So far, creams coming from the Dominican Republic, Hong Kong and China have been found to contain mercury.

In conjunction with NRDC, MPP recently developed a fact sheet on mercury in skin lightening soaps creams and on January 20, 2005 gave a presentation on the risks posed from using these products at a Workshop on Mercury in the Port of Spain, Trinidad, that was the seventh of a series cosponsored by the UN Environment Program and the Basel Convention Carribean Regional Centre.

2/1/05 According to an article published in last month's journal Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology middle-aged men may be at greater risk of having a heart attack if they eat mercury-contaminated fish. Researchers at the University of Kuopio in Finland monitored the diet and health of 2,682 Finnish men. The researchers found that middle aged men had a 50 - 70 percent higher risk of heart disease or cardiovascular disease, or having a heart attack, if they had elevated levels of mercury. Several news media stories (see SF Chronicle and Greenwire) have appeared on the subject.

2/1/05 The U.S. State Department will officially release its position on mercury use and pollution for international negotiations to be held by the UN Environment Program (UNEP) in Nairobi, Kenya, late next month. The United States will make no commitments to reduce mercury pollution. Instead, it has invited other countries, as well as industry and nongovernmental organizations, to join in voluntary discussion groups, which it calls "partnerships," to further assess the problem of mercury use in key industrial sectors and its health effects.

Environmentalists and health advocates are most troubled by the U.S. position on mercury usage in chlorine manufacturing (the chlor-alkali sector of the chemical industry). In the United States alone, this sector purchases more than 100 tons of mercury, and it is estimated that worldwide it purchases 797 tons, 23 percent of total global use.

"The U.S. partnership plan does nothing more than cover up the dirtiest remaining mercury uses in our own country," said Michael Bender, director of the Mercury Policy Project (MPP) and representative for the Ban Mercury Working Group, a coalition of 28 advocacy organizations around the world. "It fails to address the need to transform this industry here and abroad by moving it away from its reliance on an outdated mercury technology. It fails to address the need to store the industry's surplus mercury. And it won't even establish a baseline to measure the limited progress it might make. If adopted, the U.S. plan would take Europe 10 steps backward from where it is today."

1/31/05 FDA Environment and health groups welcomed the adoption of the awaited Community Strategy on Mercury, presented today by the European Commission. The Strategy is a step forward at EU and Global level, giving a clear sign that the Commission is prepared to take significant measures to reduce Mercury emissions, supply and demand -- not only at EU but also global level -- for the protection of the environment and human health.

One point of major importance in the strategy is the intention to phase out and eliminate EU Mercury exports by 2011. "It is very important that the Commission as a whole has come forward with a proposal, showing Europe's clear responsibility for its Mercury trade with the rest of the world and especially the developing countries, where Mercury is often used in a much less regulated way", said John Hontelez, EEB Secretary General. Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) welcome as well that, consistent with the export ban, measures will also be adopted to ensure the safe storage of Mercury from decommissioned chlor-alkali production facilities, again asserting EU leadership to remove excess Mercury supplies from the global marketplace.

With respect to strategic actions at international level, the NGOs commend the Commission for supporting all ongoing international activities, while proposing other action, including pilot projects to reduce emissions from coal burning in countries such as China, India and Russia. The Commission's advocacy of a global phase-out of Mercury primary production, encouraging other countries to stop surpluses re-entering the market, under an initiative similar to the Montreal Protocol on ozone-depleting substances, should become the central argument to the UNEP Governing Council meeting in Nairobi in February. At this meeting, measures aimed at limiting the impact of Mercury and its compounds on human health and environment are to be discussed and decided.

"To that end we call upon the Council and the Member States to keep at least this level of commitment contained in the E.C. Mercury Strategy, and to give immediate support to concrete parallel track measures to substantially reduce Mercury demand and releases over the next five years at the upcoming UNEP global debate," said Michael Bender of the Ban Mercury Working Group.

1/14/05 FDA and EPA are refusing to work cooperatively with several states--including Maine, Washington, Minnesota and Wisconsin-- to harmonize fish--consumption advisories between state and federal agencies so that confusion among consumers can be minimized. States like Washington have expressed concerns over the "clarity" of the federal brochure regarding the methylmercury exposure risks of canned tuna consumption. According to the letter from the WA Health Dept., "Recent sampling of canned tuna by both DOG and FDA reveals that albacore (white) tuna has three times the amount of mercury as light tuna. We are in the process of revising the 'Fish Facts for Good Health' brochure to recommend that women of childbearing age and young children choose light tuna over albacore (white) and, if choosing albacore, that no other fish meals be eaten that week."

MPP and others are expressing outrage over the federal governments disregard for working cooperatively with states like Maine, after the Department of Health there wrote EPA and FDA, requesting that the "agencies not distribute your new brochure because of concerns that doing so would complicate and potentially undermine efforts already underway in Maine..." According to a statement made by MPP Director Michael Bender in a recent article "For the federal government to ignore Maine's request, it's just unfathomable that they are dictating and imposing federal preemption when the federal advisory is not strong enough or specific enough for many states. Also, conflicting messages confuse people and the main goal of the EPA/FDA joint advisory was to avoid conflicting messages."

1/11/05 The U.S. Department of State is poised to promote a "collaborative" approach on global mercury issues at the upcoming UN Environment Program Governing Council meeting in Nairobi in starting on February 21, according to a news article out today. Although the EPA proposal further describes what's envisoned, it is not clear whether the Bush Administration will fund it. In addition, the US DoS appears more fixated than ever on "collaborative" (e.g.bi-national) approaches rather than an expanding role for UNEP chemicals on mercury, even after the past year of UNEP effectively (as the US most wanted in 2003) hosting a series of Mercury Workshops for developing countries in several regions around the world over this past year. See more information on UNEP activities.

Unfortunately, the same dynamic appears to be developing as in 2003. when the U.S. opposed even any preliminary discussions about binding international agreements on global mercury pollution. The US, in particular, locked horns with the Europe over this, resulting in the negotiations almost stalling. Currently, some EU countries (see UN and European Parliament documents) are proposing a binding international treaty on mercury, while the draft European Commission Mercury Strategy states that "The Community should advocate a global phase-out of primary mercury production, and encourage other countries to stop surpluses re-entering the market."

Last fall, environmentalists sent a letter to the EPA Administrator Leavitt, urging him to consider setting goals to simultaneously reduced global mercury supply and demand. "Hopefully, what comes out of the upcoming UNEP GO Nairobi meeting is a 'parallel track' approach, that provides some room for discussions on supply and demand reduction goals, trade transparency and international agreements to move forward on global mercury issues," said MPP Director Michael Bender, "While at the same time--and in the near term--focuses on meaningful and immediate actions that include a continuing and meaningful role for UNEP on mercury."

12/15/04 The New England Zero Mercury Coalition (see press release) released test results yesterday that showed a number of toys purchased at large retail stores like Wal-Mart, iParty, Party City, Claire's and Bed, Bath and Beyond were powered with non-removable mercury batteries. The toys included flashing noses, bouncing balls, flashing teeth, lollipops and pens that light up, and antlers that play songs. These types of toys usually end up in the trash within a couple of weeks, contributing to mercury pollution through the incineration process. For this reason, these novelty items were banned effective July 1, 2003 under Public Act 02-90, An Act Concerning Mercury Education and Reduction.

At the press conference and in response to the findings, Attorney General Richard Blumenthal announced that his Office had sent letters to stores that have allegedly violated the law directing them to remove any illegal products from their shelves. An investigation is on-going and the Attorney General is considering legal action and seeking penalties.

"Mercury shouldn't be a stocking stuffer," Blumenthal said. "Our holiday greeting to retailers today is very simple: Remove mercury from your store shelves, or we will do it for you with added penalties. Companies must stop disregarding and defying Connecticut's zero-mercury law luring parents into inadvertently buying the dozens of mercury-fueled toys. When the toys are trashed, this mercury pollutes Connecticut soil and water and endangers health."

The letter from Blumenthal to Wal-Mart's President and CEO H.Lee Scott states, in part, the following:

11/29/04 As occurred in 2003, there again appears to be a concerted effort underfoot by the US and its allies to block discussions about an international treaty on mercury. These countries seem to infer that they are strong advocates for global mercury solutions. For example, as it states at the end of a recent news article "Canada is one of the countries that has been lobbying at the United Nations for a global strategy on mercury." "Unfortunately, this article is a clear example of the what Canada, the US, UK, and other industrialized countries are portraying as a strong push for international agreements on mercury--until you read the fine print in comments that they are making to UNEP or, in the case of the UK, to the EC," said MPP director Michael Bender. In its comments to the UNEP, Canada only supports voluntary efforts and apparently opposes binding international efforts--as they did in 2003 when they joined with the US in blocking discussions on an international treaty on mercury.

"Unfortunately, the upcoming UNEP Governing Council discussion on mercury next February appears to be shaping up like a rerun of what occurred in 2003--unless the current equasion is challenged," said Bender. "Therefore, we urge countries to review our blueprint of the necessary steps the world's governments should take to reduce mercury supply and demand in a coordinated manner, and reduce and eliminate mercury emissions and exposures."

11/19/04 Conservation Law Foundation, National Wildlife Federation and MPP sent a letter today to Massachusetts Department of Environment supportive of its proposed concept - to focus on mercury pollution reduction efforts rather than on TMDLs. Yet support was conditioned on only if accompanied by firm commitments from Massachusetts, neighboring states and the EPA to specifically identify and implement comprehensive mercury pollution control strategies to achieve virtual elimination of anthropogenic mercury uses and releases by 2010.

11/15/04 Clean Air Council and MPP recently submitted comments urging the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to add a report requirement to the hazardous waste permit they are considering issuing to Bethlehem Apparatus, Inc., the largest mercury recycler in the world. "Implementing policies to collect solid information about the trade of recycled mercury is an easy and effective way for the developed world to begin addressing this global issue," said MPP Director Michael Bender. "Over the years, Bethlehem Apparatus has been most forthcoming in providing information to the public related to the production and use of mercury both in the United States and worldwide. Therefore, Clean Air Council and the Mercury Policy Project strongly urge the inclusion of tracking requirements in the final permit granted to Bethlehem Apparatus."

In their comments, the groups also state that, "tracking of worldwide mercury trade and demand will facilitate global solutions to mercury contamination by giving solid information about where and how efforts to reduce mercury use must be targeted. Also, tracking will help reduce the use of mercury in particularly harmful and unnecessary practices. A mercury phase out is only a matter of time, and a well established tracking system will only help facilitate the process."

10/27/04 In response to a new Institute of Medicine proposal, advocates are calling on the federal Women, Infant and Children (WIC) program to stop exposing America's most sensitive, low income populations to mercury in white tuna. The IOM Report is considering "…dietary guidance from federal agencies and panels of the National AAcademies regarding food safety" and suggests that "the types of fish/shellfish that are intermediate in methylmercury contamination [be] limited" in the WIC program.

"Since last year, FDA has known that white canned tuna has three times as much mercury as light tuna," said Michael Bender, director of the Mercury Policy Project. (see press release) "So why is the federal WIC program continuing to subsidize the tuna industry and, in effect, the poisoning of low-income Americans with mercury from white albacore tuna?"

10/8/04 MPP Director Michael Bender recented gave a presentation to the International Adademy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology (IAOMT) on "Dental Mercury Use and Release Reduction." "We applaud the Academy for promoting mercury-free denistry and encourage all dentists to practice Best Management Practices, including installation of amalgam separators," said Bender.

IAOMT is a membership organization for dental, medical and research professionals who seek to promote mercury-free denistry, and raise the standards of scientific biocompatibility in dental practice. It has taken the lead in educating dentists and allied professionals in the methods of safely dealing with amalgam fillings, and safely disposing of the waste.

10/7/04 Industrial mercury pollution is prevalent and at critically dangerous levels around the world, and it will take an international effort to combat it, two U.S. health advocacy groups said today. (For more information on mercury pollution, go to: http://www.nrdc.org/health/effects/mercury/index.asp) The groups, NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) and the Mercury Policy Project, applauded a new congressional resolution urging the Bush administration to support a binding international treaty to reduce mercury use, trade and pollution (see press release). The resolution was introduced earlier in the day by Sen. James Jeffords (I-VT), along with Senators Lincoln Chafee (R-CT), Paul Sarbanes (D-MD), Olympia Snowe (R-ME), Joseph Lieberman (D-CT), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Mark Dayton (D-MN), and Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ).

"We applaud the bipartisan approach taken by Senator Jeffords and others in recognition that no single country can resolve the mercury problem on its own," said Michael Bender of the Mercury Policy Project and a representative of the Ban Mercury Working Group, a global coalition of 28 organizations. "There are alternatives for most all mercury uses, but there is no alternative to global cooperation."

8/31/04 Connecticut legislators, business people, health professionals, lawyers and environmentalists today announced filing a formal request (see statement and petition) that the Department of Environmental Protection enforce a law effective July 1, 2004. Public Act 02-90 states that after that date, products with 250 parts per million of mercury can no longer be sold in Connecticut. However, so-called "silver" dental fillings, which contain 500,000 parts per million of mercury, continue to be used. "Mercury is one of the major public health threats in our nation today," said state Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, who spoke in support of the group's action at the news conference. "Mercury is a neurotoxin. …There is no safe level of mercury in the environment."

Mark Breiner, a Trumbull dentist and president of the International Association of Oral Medicine & Toxicology, said there are many safe substitutes for the so-called "silver" fillings, which include mercury and several other elements. "I haven't placed a mercury filling in over 25 years," Breiner said at a news conference at the Legislative Office Building. A number of dentists across the country agree and have issued a written statement opposing mercury use in dental fillings.

8/26/04 The US Department of State recently responded to Senator James Jeffords June 24th letter to President Bush urging him to take strong affirmative action to reduce domestic mercury pollution and constructively engage in an international dialogue to produce a binding global agreement on mercury. In the DoS response, the Administration stated that it recognized "the health risks associated with mercury" are "a serious concern both in the United States and globally"--yet then failed to lay out a plan for the US to take a leadership role in reducing global mercury pollution.

8/18/04 When it comes to preventing mercury pollution and exposure, New England is paying the price for inaction: Mercury continues to accumulate in our environment, and developing children and heavy fish eaters continue to take the brunt of mercury's toxic effects. In 1998, the New England Governors set a goal to "virtually eliminate" mercury emissions in the region, but never established a date to accomplish this. The New E

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