Development of an EU strategy on mercury

Mercury and its compounds are highly toxic to humans, especially to the developing nervous system. They are also harmful to ecosystems and wildlife populations. Microbial metabolism of deposited mercury can create methylmercury, which has the capacity to collect in organisms (bioaccumulate) and to concentrate up food chains (biomagnify), especially in the aquatic food chain. Methylmercury readily passes both the placental barrier and the blood-brain barrier. In December 2002, the Council invited the Commission to prepare an EU strategy on mercury, to be presented in 2004.