EU legislation and policy relating to mercury and its compounds
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 readily passes both the placental barrier and the blood-brain barrier.
* A working document on EU legislation and policy relating to mercury and its compounds (pdf~150K) prepared by DG Environment
· A background report on Mercury flows in Europe and the world: The impact of decommissioned chlor-alkali plants (pdf~980K), prepared for DG Environment by Concorde East/West Sprl
· A previous Commission report concerning mercury from the chlor-alkali industry (pdf~250K)
· The position paper of an independent expert group on Ambient air pollution by mercury, produced in relation to EU air quality legislation