Written question asked by Nigel Evans (Conservative) on Friday, 7 February 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 12 February 2003. It was answered by Alun Michael (Labour) on Wednesday, 12 February 2003 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the accepted maximum levels of mercury in the environment are. - Inc figures.

Answer: Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the accepted maximum levels of mercury in the environment are. [97520] Alun Michael: There is no acceptable maximum level of mercury in the environment. To protect against direct human inhalation, the World Health Organisation (WHO), recommends a guideline level of 1 microgramme per cubic metre for inorganic mercury vapour in air. However due to the fact that mercury has been shown to bioaccumulate in its toxic, methylated form in the environment, particularly in the aquatic food chain, the WHO recommends that ambient levels of mercury in air should be kept as low as possible. Environmental quality standards (EQSs) for mercury in the aquatic environment are set out in List I of the Dangerous Substances Directive (DSD) (76/464/EEC) and the Surface Water (Dangerous Substances) (Classification) Regulations (1989) as 1 nanogramme per litre for freshwater and 0.3 nanogrammes per litre for saltwater. Mercury discharges are also covered by daughter directives of the DSD (82/176/EEC and 84/156/EEC).

Secondary information