Tools and Resources

Dealing With Mercury Spills

This video on safe disposal of spilled mercury was produced by HCWH's partner in India, Toxics Link.

Our factsheet also details what to do in the event of a mercury spill: Managing Small Mercury Spills (pdf).

International Strategy

• Toward the Tipping Point: WHO-HCWH Global Initiative to Substitute Mercury-Based Medical Devices in Health Care. A Two-Year Progress Report (pdf)
• UNEP Mercury Strategy (pdf)
• World Health Organisation Mercury Strategy (pdf)
• HCWH and WHO partnership on Mercury Elimination
• Visit the Mercury Free Health Care website
• The Global Movement for Mercury-Free Health Care  (pdf)

Substituting Mercury Sphygmomanometers

Download our fact sheet on how to phase out mercury sphygmos, including a list of alternatives validated by the British Hypertension Society. (pdf)

European Union Resources

• Mercury Sphygmomanometers in Healthcare and the Feasibility of Alternatives, by the Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks(SCENIHR) (pdf)
• European Chemicals Agency Restriction Report on Mercury Containing Measuring Devices  (pdf)

Other Websites

• Mercury-Free Health Care
  www.mercuryfreehealthcare.org
  Health Care Without Harm website focusing on global mercury elimination
• Zero Mercury Global Campaign
  www.zeromercury.org
  International NGOs project to eliminate the problem of mercury
• UNEP Mercury Programme
  www.chem.unep.ch/mercury
  Website detailing UNEP's strategy and information about mercury
• Healthcare Environmental Resource - Mercury
  www.hercenter.org/hazmat/mercury.cfm
  Admittedly US-focused, but still useful, page detailing hazards and liabilities for healthcare facilities relating to mercury; also gives extensive compliance information and information about alternatives