Resolution 02-02

Preventing Human and Environmental Mercury
Exposure and Harm 

Whereas, Mercury is a component of consumer and medical products which, when discarded or through accidental breakage, enters the environment; and

Whereas, Mercury is a recognized hazardous pollutant that is persistent in the environment once introduced, becoming more concentrated at higher levels of the food chain; and

Whereas, It is understood that when inorganic mercury is released into the environment, microbial biotransformation, mainly in aquatic environments, produces the highly toxic methylmercury, which readily crosses the blood-brain and placental barriers, and that this organic compound accumulates as it moves up the food chain (1); and

Whereas, Studies have shown that very low doses of mercury result in impaired childhood neuro-behavioral function, including problems with attention, verbal learning, vocabulary, and neuromotor function (2); and

Whereas, According to the National Academy of Sciences, mercury exposure may cause neurological problems in 60,000 children born in the United States each year (3); and

Whereas, The recognized links between mercury exposure and neurological and neurobehavioral function and impairment are significant, leading to public health impacts and concerns; and

Whereas, It is known that appropriate cost-effective, alternative mercury-free products are currently available for many mercury-containing consumer and health care products (4); and

Whereas, The Washington State Department of Ecology has recognized the human and environmental health risks of mercury, and has targeted mercury as the first persistent bioaccumulative toxic chemical to address in its “Strategy to Continually Reduce Persistent Bioaccumulative Toxins in Washington State”(5); and

Whereas, The State of Washington has determined that mercury contamination in fish reaches sufficiently high levels that fish consumption advisories must be issued; and

Whereas, The State of Washington has issued warnings about eating fish from Lake Whatcom, Lake Roosevelt, Sinclair Inlet, and Eagle Harbor due to mercury contamination, (6); and

Whereas, The Washington State Department of Health in April, 2001, warned women of childbearing age and children under six not to eat any shark, swordfish, tilefish, king mackerel, or tuna steaks (7); and

Whereas, A mere 1 gram (1/28th ounce) of mercury emitted into a 20-acre lake can cause the fish to be unsafe for human consumption; and

Whereas, The American Hospital Association has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Environmental Protection Agency to phase out mercury-contaminated waste in hospitals by the year 2005, while highly-effective programs for the virtual elimination of mercury from hospital waste through use of mercury-free alternative products have been initiated in the US (8); and

Whereas, The Washington Academy of Family Physicians at its 2002 annual meeting endorsed a resolution to encourage the phase-out of the use of mercury in consumer and medical products where cost-effective alternatives are available; and

Whereas, The American Public Health Association adopted policy statement 9910, “Preventing Human Methylmercury Exposure to Protect Public Health,” which encourages the reduction of mercury-containing products, the reduction of mercury emissions at its sources, and the prevention of mercury ingestion through fish advisories and public education regarding mercury-contaminated fish; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the Washington State Public Health Association (WSPHA) encourages physicians, hospitals and public health agencies and departments to phase out the purchase and use of mercury-containing products where alternatives are possible; and be it further

RESOLVED, That WSPHA does not oppose the therapeutic use of selected beneficial mercury-containing products; and be it further

RESOLVED, That WSPHA urges medical product suppliers to continue to develop, produce, and market appropriate, cost-competitive, environmentally protective and effective mercury-free replacements; and be it further

RESOLVED, That WSPHA encourages health care professionals to inform patients about fish consumption advisories; and be it further

RESOLVED, That WSPHA call upon health care professionals to encourage the institutions with which they are associated to adopt policies that will lead toward the eventual elimination of mercury containing products where feasible, effective alternatives are available.

References:

1.  US Dept of Health and Human Services ATSDR Mercury Fact Sheet, Sept 1995.

2.  National Academy of Sciences. Toxicological Effects of Methylmercury, 2000. p. 273.

3.  National Academy of Sciences.  Ibid. p. 276

4.  Going Green: A Resource Kit for Pollution Prevention in Health Care: “Making Medicine Mercury-Free, A Resource Guide for Mercury-Free Medicine”.  Health Care Without Harm. October 15, 2001 .

5.  WA State Dept of Ecology. “Strategy to Continually Reduce Persistent Bioaccumulative Toxins in WA State”

6.  Washington State Dept of Health Fish Advisories.    http://www.doh.wa.gov/ehp/oehas/EHA_fish_adv.htm.2002

7.  WA State Dept of Health news release: “Fish Consumption Advisory: Too Much Mercury.”  April 12, 2001 .

8.  American Hospital Association: Memorandum of Understanding between the US Environmental Protection Agency and the American Hospital Association, June 24, 1998;  Environmental Working Group and Health Care Without Harm. Greening Hospitals: An Analysis of Pollution Prevention in America ’s Top Hospitals, 1998.

Signed by: Jackson Williams, WSPHA President