I am unable so far to find any records on changes of annual or decadal sales, production or usage of fungicides based on mercury compounds. Such fungicides were for example Uspulun and Ceresan (by Bayer company http://www.seedgrowth.bayer.com/explore/100%20years%20of%20innovation/uspulun) but there might be others I am not aware of...
I am especially interested in data for Europe but any information would be good. Furthermore I wonder if anyone is aware where these substances were mainly produced?
Thx.
Hg was excluded from all slimicides from the end of 1967, from all antifouling paints sold after 1973, and from all fungicides used in agriculture after 1988, when the National Chemicals Inspectorate (US) did not prolong the registration of a Hg-containing fungicide, occasionally used as an exception from the ban of Hg fungicides from the 1970's.
Figures released by the Indian Directorate of General of Commercial Intelligence (DGCI) the centre said imports of metallic mercury into India have more than doubled between 1996 and 2002, from 254 tonnes a year to 531 tonnes annually. The figures for import of organo-mercury compounds, including pesticides and biocides were even higher having jumped from 0.7 tonnes to 1812 tonnes during the same period. Going by DGCI data, India consumed at 2003 50 percent of global production of mercury compounds and processes 69 percent of it. This is at a time when most countries are moving out of mercury-based processes and products and overall global production of mercury is declining.
In contrast, the U.S., former the world's biggest user of mercury has reduced by 2003 annual consumption to 372 tonnes annually and ensures that the metal does not pollute the environment through rigorous application of such laws as the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act and the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act.
http://toxicslink.org/docs/06035_publications-1-33-2.pdf
http://www.indiaresource.org/news/2003/1006.html
Thanks Alex, as I said before I am especially looking for European data but this is great too. Thanks for links to publications.
I guess it was banned in EU at early 1980-s too. mercury-based fungicides were prohibited in USSR at 1981.
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