Eu Mercury phase out in Measuring and Control Equipment - EEB

REPORT FROM THE CONFERENCE “EU MERCURY PHASE OUT IN MEASURING AND CONTROL EQUIPMENT”Table of ContentsI. Introduction and background ............................................................................................................ 3II. Conference Results............................................................................................................................. 5III. Agenda ............................................................................................................................................... 9IV. Sphygmomanometers in healthcare ...............................................................................................111. EU restrictions of mercury use in measuring and control equipment – EC proposal.....................112. Industry’s view on mercury in measuring devices - The global mercury crisis and the globalhypertension crisis...............................................................................................................................15Discussion ...................................................................................................................................173. NGOs view and experiences on mercury-free measuring devices .................................................214. Phasing out mercury sphygmomanometers for professional use....................................................22Discussion ...................................................................................................................................275. To be or not to be Hg Free – that is the question! A case for the Mercury Free Hospital...............276. The experience of Rezekne Hospital as a mercury-free hospital....................................................307. Global developments and mercury in measuring devices...............................................................318. WHO policy and partnership ..........................................................................................................339. The Global Movement for Mercury Free Healthcare .....................................................................39Discussion ...................................................................................................................................4110. Phasing out of mercury sphygmomanometers in Poland..............................................................4111. Swedish Policy for a Mercury Free Environment.........................................................................4212. UK concerns on mercury device restrictions ................................................................................44Discussion ...................................................................................................................................44V. Technical Panel Discussion .............................................................................................................. 4513. Perspective by a mercury-free hospital.........................................................................................4514. Manufacturer’s perspective...........................................................................................................4615. Clinical doctor’s perspective (Presentation by Professor Peter Orris MD, University ofIllinois, WHO Collaborating Center in Occupational and Environmental Health) ............................4816. Validation expert’s perspective .....................................................................................................49Panel discussion on calibration, validation and special cases.....................................................51VI. Other measuring devices................................................................................................................ 5218. Other Mercury Containing Devices or Applications of Concern..................................................5219. Mercury electrodes: Important applications of polarography and possible mercury-freealternatives ..........................................................................................................................................5420. Views on other measuring devices from a Member State - Denmark...........................................56Discussion on other measuring devices ......................................................................................56VII. List of Abbreviations..................................................................................................................... 58VIII. Pictures from the meeting........................................................................................................... 59IX. Participants list ............................................................................................................................... 622