Toxic substances list: mercury

Approximately half of the mercury currently cycling through our environment originates from human activities (such as the combustion of coal and the incineration of waste), while the other half can be attributed to natural sources and processes. Despite mercury's toxic nature, humans take advantage of its unique properties to produce various consumer products, including fluorescent lights and dental amalgam. When mercury from natural and anthropogenic sources is released to the atmosphere, it can be transported around the globe on wind currents, being deposited onto land and reemitted into the atmosphere several times along the way. Mercury can exist in several forms depending on the surrounding conditions. The most toxic form, known as methylmercury, can bioaccumulate in fish and may pose a potential health threat to fish-eating animals and humans.

For more information on this substance, please visit the Chemical Substances website.

CAS (Chemical Abstract Service) registry number: 7439-97-6 and various (mercury compounds)

Risk assessment

• United Nations Environment Programme Global Mercury Assessment 2018
• CEPA 1999 Schedule 1 - List of Toxic Substances - This substance has been added to the List of Toxic Substances.
• Full life cycle management of the substance (Track 2) under the Toxic Substances Management Policy
• Canadian Mercury Science Assessment:
  • Executive Summary
  • Summary of Key Results
  • Full Report (PDF)

Sources

This substance is entering the environment from the following source(s):

• Base Metals Smelting Sector
• Electric Power Generation Sector (Fossil Fuel)
• Incineration
• Industrial, Commercial and Consumer Products
• Pulp and Paper Industry
• Iron and Steel Industry
• Cement Industry
• Mining Industry

Risk management strategy

Click on the following link to view strategies and actions recommended to manage risks associated with the substance:

• Risk Management Strategy for Mercury (PDF)

Risk management evaluation

Click on the following link to view an evaluation of Canada’s efforts to manage risks to the environment and human health caused by mercury:

• Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Risk Management Measures for Mercury

Risk management tools

Tool(s) developed to manage risks associated with the substance:

• Canada-wide Standards for Mercury Emissions from Coal-fired Electric Power Generation Plants
• Reduction of Carbon Dioxide Emissions from Coal-fired Generation of Electricity Regulations
• Products Containing Mercury Regulations
• Export of Substances on the Export Control List Regulations
• Export and Import of Hazardous Waste and Hazardous Recyclable Material Regulations
• Pollution Prevention Planning Notice on Mercury Switches in End-of-life Vehicles Processed by Steel Mills (PDF only-archived content-see page 3556)
• Pollution Prevention Planning Notice on Mercury Releases from Dental Amalgam Waste (PDF only-archived content-see page 1101)
• Memorandum of Understanding Respecting the Implementation of the Canada-wide Standard on Mercury for Dental Amalgam Waste (PDF)
• Canada-wide Standard on Mercury for Dental Amalgam Waste
• Code of Practice for the Environmentally Sound Management of End-of-Life Lamps Containing Mercury
• National Strategy for Safe and Environmentally Sound Disposal of Lamps Containing Mercury Act
• Canada-wide Standard for Mercury-Containing Lamps
• Metal and Diamond Mining Effluent Regulations
• Environmental Code of Practice for Metal Mines
• Notice requiring the preparation and implementation of pollution prevention plans in respect of specified toxic substances released from base metals smelters and refineries and zinc plants (PDF only-archived content-found on page 877 )
• Environmental Code of Practice for Base Metals Smelters and Refineries
• Environmental Codes of Practice for Integrated Steel Mills
• Environmental Code of Practice for Non-integrated Steel Mills

International engagement

For information on Canada's international engagement on this substance, please visit:

• Minamata Convention on Mercury
• Rotterdam Convention
• United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Protocol on Heavy Metals (Protocol to the UNECE Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP))
• Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal
• Global Mercury Partnership
• Arctic Contaminants Action Program Expert Group on POPs and Mercury
• Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme
• Canada-US Collaboration for Great Lakes Water Quality: Chemicals of Mutual Concern

Consultation

• Share your thoughts: Proposed Regulations amending the Products Containing Mercury Regulations

Other information

• Mercury and the environment
• Mercury and Human Health
• Mercury in Fish: Questions and Answers
• Northern Contaminants Program
• Canadian Environmental Sustainability Indicators:
  • Emissions of harmful substances to air
  • Releases of harmful substances to water
• Canadian National Atmospheric Chemistry Database and Analysis Facility (NAtChem) Air Quality Data

Contact

Substances Management Information Line
Chemicals Management Plan
Gatineau, QC K1A 0H3

Telephone: 1-800-567-1999 (in Canada) or 819-938-3232
Fax: 819-938-3231
E-mail: eccc.substances.eccc@canada.ca

 

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