Mercury, barometers and daft EU law
Posted by Ellee on Jun 6, 2007 in updates | 14 comments
Robert Sturdy MEP tried his best to ensure that new laws banning the use of mercury in new barometers did not go through. But unfortunately, common sense did not prevail. The ban will also apply to thermometers and blood pressure gauges.
If there was any real concern that the miniscule amounts of mercury were harmful to health and the environment, then Robert would have been the first to say. He was Shadow Rapporteur on the Trade Committees report on Mercury and knows this subject thoroughly.
“Mercury in barometers is miniscule and only accounts for 0.2% of the 300 tonnes used in the industry. This bureaucratic ban marks a very uncertain future for the companies who specialise in the repairs and maintenance of these traditional instruments going back 400 years, it is an area the UK has proudly lead.�
He will be speaking about this on local radio following our press release today objecting to the ban. It means that pictures like the one above could become a memory in the not too distant future.
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Firstly, I would like to thank you all for your comments. There are currently two Directives about mercury going through the European Parliament – one regarding the use of mercury in measuring devices (causing all the problems with barometers) and one dealing with the safe storage of mercury.
It seems absolutely ridiculous that, at the same time as banning barometers, the EU is promoting energy saving light bulbs. What do these two things have in common? That’s right – mercury! However, one of these items is deemed so dangerous that its creation is being banned while the other is being promoted as the answer to our climate change woes. How’s that for not thinking things through properly?
This is a perfect example of the EU pushing its nose into Member State affairs and undermining a long standing tradition and industry within the UK. Surely there are more important things to be getting on with? If this is the sort of law we are wasting our time on, is there really any point in having the EU?
Twas only a heartbeat ago that the government were supplying mercury to be safely injected into our children in the form of thermiosol? thermisol? a vaccine.
Just to confirm that Robert’s office is still checking out the situation regarding mercury and energy saving light bulbs. He has had several more requests for media interviews, including TV, following our press release on this.
Yes, in Wales they make slate barometers for the tourist trade and I once wanted to bring one to Italy as a present for a friend. I realised just in time that it would not be allowed on the plane, though, and, although irritated, I can see why [as C/U points out]. My grandad tapping our barometer every morning is one of my earliest memories.
Hypocentre, I’ll see if I can get some clarification from Robert’s office about this.
Ellee,
from the article you cite
I’m sure that there are far more than 100 x more of these light bulbs than thermometers.
Sounds safe enough to me … not
A mercury barometer, if broek, could easily down an airliner. Mecury reacts with amazing vigour against Aluminium.
perhaps this is another, unspoken, reason.
‘Is this all the sort of laws that come up now? Aren’t there any common sense ones.’ (Jean-luc Pickard)
They’ve pretty much harmonised everything that needs harmonising now. If they don’t keep making laws they make themselves redundant, they’ll consider any old rubbish these days. In other words they are desparate. I must say I like Camerons idea of aligning with New-Europea anti-federalist right, it’s surely the future.
Hypocentre, I found this link on mercury and the energy saving lights, it doesn’t seem to think they may be too dangerous:
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/05/070518-cfls-bulbs.html
What about the mercury in the new energy efficient light bulbs we are being told to use now?
When are the stupid British electorate going to realize that we are Better off Out?
Is this all the sort of laws that come up now? Aren’t there any common sense ones.