EPP Issues & Resources

Mercury

Mercury is a neurotoxic heavy metal that is linked to numerous health effects in wildlife and people. When released into the environment, it is deposited into land and surface waters where it remains indefinitely, either as elemental mercury (the inorganic form) or as methylmercury (the organic form). Microorganisms can convert elemental mercury to methylmercury, making it more biologically available and able to interact with cells and damage them. Methylmercury accumulates in the tissues of animals, especially fish, and through consumption of mercury-contaminated foods, it bioaccumulates in humans.

Mercury exposure can cause tremors, impaired vision and hearing, paralysis, insomnia, emotional instability, developmental deficits during fetal development, and attention deficit and developmental delays during childhood. Methylmercury from contaminated fish easily crosses the placenta and enters the brain of the developing fetus. The critical effect from prenatal exposure to methylmercury is mental retardation.

Because any mercury released into the environment can be converted to methylmercury, which can bioaccumulate in the food chain, eliminating even small amounts of mercury will have a beneficial effect on the environment. We urge all hospitals to join the Making Hospitals Mercury-Free Movement and are working closely with Consorta members to select mercury-free products for contracts and with suppliers to develop mercury-free products where alternatives to mercury-containing products do not exist.

Key Resources

10 Step Guide to Mercury Reduction

Mercury – The Issues

Sustainable Hospitals – Mercury Reduction

Mercury-Free Products

For information about mercury-free products on contract with Consorta, contact Laura Wenger at lwenger@consorta.com.