Policy Resources
The Safina Center (formerly Blue Ocean Institute)
"..seek[s] to inspire a deeper connection with nature, in everyone touched by an ocean.
The Safina Center translates scientific information into language people can understand
and serves as a unique voice of hope, guidance, and encouragement." In addition to other important work, the Safina Center has created a web-based resource about mercury in the environment that explains the connection between environmental pollutants and seafood contaminants.
Their work goes beyond the science to mastering the art of clear communication. Content
includes a comprehensive report "Mercury: Sources in the Environment, Health Effects, and Politics" as well as a very short video cartoon explaining how mercury gets into our seafood.
Diagnosis Mercury: Money Politics and Poison
is a noteworthy book written by a internal medicine physician from San Francisco,
Jane M. Hightower, M.D., who became an expert in methylmercury poisoning after recognizing
a pattern in her patient population who ate fish. Her book covers her journey of discovery
with regards to diagnosing her patients with methylmercury poisoning all while telling
the history of mercury use in our society. The focus of the book is the lack of information
available and resulting low public awareness of the issue and the intriguing history
and politics that surround this contaminant. The book website has some useful resources available for physicians.
Environmental Working Group
EWG has a mission to " ... conduct original, game-changing research that inspires
people, businesses and governments to take action to protect human health and the
environment." They work to raise awareness and effect policy change in the area of
mercury exposures from fish consumption.
Mercury Policy Project
“The Mercury Policy Project (MPP) works to promote policies to eliminate mercury uses,
reduce the export and trafficking of mercury, and significantly reduce mercury exposures
at the local, national, and international levels.” Mercury and Fish: The Facts is an MPP-sponsored web site with a look at the controversies and misinformation around
mercury in fish and fish advisories.
MPP report released 2001: "Tuna Surprise: Mercury in School Lunches Risk Management Advice for Schools and Parents"
MercuryWatch
"Mercurywatch.org is dedicated to collecting, analysing, and publically serving information about mercury
released to the environment from Artisanal and Small Scale Gold Mining." Mercury released
into the environment from artisanal gold mining now is estimated to be as significant
a source as from coal burning.
Aims to improve awareness of mercury contamination and influence policy decisions about fish contaminant advisories.
Pollution Probe
Canadian environmental organization that uses education to advance policy change.
They aim “To protect human and ecosystem health by reducing and/or eliminating the
use and release of mercury from human sources to the environment.” Their publication
“Mercury in the Environment, A Primer”is a good resource for the general public on where mercury comes from, how it can
impact our health, and what we can do about it.
Toxipedia is a free on-line toxicology encyclopedia with information on mercury and other toxic chemicals in our environment. Their goal “is to provide scientific information in the context of history, society, and culture so that the public has the information needed to make sound choices that protect both human and environmental health.” Their site provides a wealth of links and resources about mercury.
United Nations Environmental Programme spearheaded the Minimata Convention on Mercury--a global treaty to protect human health and the environment from the effects of mercury.
Zero Mercury Working Group is an international coalition of 94 public interest environmental and health non-governmental organizations from 52 countries from around the world formed in 2005 by the European Environmental Bureau and the Mercury Policy Project. ZMWG strives for zero supply, demand, and emissions of mercury from all anthropogenic sources, with the goal of reducing mercury in the global environment to a minimum. Our mission is to advocate and support the adoption and implementation of a legally binding instrument which contains mandatory obligations to eliminate where feasible, and otherwise minimize, the global supply and trade of mercury, the global demand for mercury, anthropogenic releases of mercury to the environment, and human and wildlife exposure to mercury."