UNEP launched Phasing out mercury measuring devices in healthcare project

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It is $134-million initiative led by UN Environment Programme (UNEP).

Aim
- Phase out mercury thermometers and sphygmomanometers at a rate of 20% annually, and reduce mercury spillages.
- Encourage adoption of accurate, affordable and safe mercury-free alternatives, while improving management of mercury-containing medical waste.
Member countries: Albania, Burkina Faso, India, Montenegro, and Uganda.
Funding: By Global Environment Facility.
Execution: By World Health Organisation.

It is a naturally occurring element found in air, water and soil.
It is the only metal which is found in liquid state at room temperature.
It is a persistent, bio-accumulative, toxic pollutant.
All humans are exposed to low levels of mercury.
- Several countries and international organizations have established reference levels for daily or weekly methyl-mercury or mercury intakes that are estimated to be safe (or without appreciable risk to health).
Sources: Gold mining, Coal-based thermal power plant, Volcanic emissions, etc.
Effect:
- Toxic effects on nervous, digestive and immune systems, lungs, kidneys, skin and eyes.
  - Minamata disease is a chronic neurological disorder caused by methyl-mercury, a heavy metal with many industrial uses.
- When released into environment, it accumulates in water laid sediments where it converts into toxic methyl-mercury and enters food chain.

Adopted in 2013 at Kumamoto (Japan) and came into force in 2017.
1st global legally binding treaty to protect human health and environment from adverse effects of mercury.
Purpose:
- Ban on new mercury mines,
- phase-out of existing ones,
- phase-out and phase-down of mercury use in products and processes.
Named after the city in Japan that became the epicentre of Minamata disease, caused by severe mercury poisoning.
India ratified it in 2018.