Retire Mercury - Safely

Mercury is highly toxic, long lived and builds up to high levels in the food chain.

Each year, millions of children in the world may be born with learning disabilities and brain damage related to mercury-contaminated fish eaten by their mothers.

Health warnings have been issued in 41 states in the US and many countries in the Europe advising people to reduce or avoid consumption of fresh water fish and certain seafood due to mercury contamination.

The use of mercury in manufacturing and in consumer products inevitably results in mercury releases to the environment from production waste and careless disposal.

Air emissions of mercury travel long distances, contributing to unsafe levels of mercury being routinely detected in rainfall far from the original sources.

Goals have been set to virtually eliminate mercury releases from human activities in the New England states, the Great Lakes region and other states and provinces.

Mercury use continues to decline and much of the U.S demand is already being met through recycling of mercury-added products at the end of their useful life.

If mercury is allowed to be traded, it would return to us in atmospheric deposition, contaminated fish and products.