Sweden Bans Remaining Uses of Mercury

Sweden's government has issued new regulation that ban the use of mercray in all products -- extending a ban in place since the early 1990s on the manufacture and sale of thermometers and other measuring devices and electronic components containing mercury. The new regulations will take effect June 1, 2009, and will ban mercury's use in dental amalgam, chemical analysis, and the chlor-alkali industry. The Swedish Chemicals Agency will have authority to grant exemptions when companies apply individually for permission to continue using it.

"Sweden is now leading the way in removing and protecting the environment from mercury, which is non-degradable. The ban is a strong signal to other countries and a Swedish contribution to EU and UN aims to reduce mercury use and emissions," Minister for the Environment Andreas Carlgren said Jan. 15, when the ban was announced.

The government's decision also means mercury waste will be stored not in Sweden, but in deep geological deposits in other EU countries such as Germany, which has such repositories that meet the Swedish regulation's safety requirements.

Creating a new Swedish repository would cost roughly 15 times more than the cost of placing mercury waste in existing EU facilities. "By using common solutions and almost 40 years of experience of storing mercury in the EU, we are not lowering safety standards. The waste will be transported to a deep geological repository with high safety standards. In accordance with the polluter pays principle, the owners of the waste will be responsible for ensuring that disposal in a repository is arranged and paying for it," said Carlgren.

Product Showcase

  • Preventative Heat Safety

    Dehydration and heat exposure impair physical and cognitive performance. Proper hydration boosts heat stress resilience, but hydration needs are highly individualized and hard to predict across a workforce. Connected Hydration® empowers industrial athletes to stay safe through behavioral interventions, informed by sports science, and equips safety teams with critical insights to anticipate high-risk situations and adapt to evolving environmental factors. Curious about applying the latest in sports science based hydration strategies for industrial athletes? Stop by booth #1112 at AIHA or schedule a free demo today at https://epcr.cc/demo. Read More

  • Glove Guard® Clip

    Safety should never be compromised, especially when it comes to proper glove usage. The Glove Guard® clip enhances safety by encouraging employees to keep their gloves with them at all times. This reduces the risk of accidents and injuries on the job. By ensuring everyone has their gloves readily available, we help promote a culture of safety and efficiency. The Glove Guard® clip is designed to withstand the toughest work environments. Constructed from robust materials made in the USA, it can endure extreme conditions, including harsh weather, and rigorous activities. Read More

  • HAZ LO HEADLAMPS

    With alkaline or rechargeable options, these safety rated, Class 1, Div. 1 Headlamps provide long runtime with both spot and flood options in the same light. Work safely and avoid trip hazards with flexible hands-free lighting from Streamlight. Read More

Featured

Artificial Intelligence

Webinars