Finally, a global agreement on mercury
We have been aware since the 1950s that mercury exposure damages the health of people, especially children.
That’s why it’s surprising that it’s taken the world this long to do something about the release of mercury into the environment. But after nearly 17 years of negotiation we finally have a global mechanism to help us deal with the increasing amount of mercury that threatens the health of people and the planet.
The Minamata Convention came into force in August this year – named after the Japanese town that alerted the world to the problem after thousands of people were poisoned when mercury contaminated industrial effluent was released into Minamata Bay.
Eighty years later there are still communities that are being destroyed by mercury poisoning – such as the poor families working and living in areas in Asia, Africa and Central and South America, where mercury is used to extract gold.
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In some places, dangerous concentrations of mercury have found their way into local food sources. Grassy Narrows First Nation community in western Ontario, Canada, is such a place. A paper mill that operated nearly 60 years ago discharged mercury contaminated effluent directly into a local river and today there is evidence that the abandoned site is still leaking mercury (Sellers et al 2017). Japanese researchers found more than 50% of the Grassy Narrows residents involved in a 2002 study showed signs of mercury poisoning consistent with Minamata disease (Harada et al 2005). These ongoing health issues have led to widespread despair in the community as people confront their poisoned future.
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Where does the mercury come from?
Mercury is sometimes called quicksilver because of its silvery colour and liquid state at room temperature. Emissions to the atmosphere due to human activity have decreased in Europe as a result of increased regulation. However, they appear to be increasing in Asia due to development (AMAP/UNEP 2015).
Artisanal and small-scale gold mining (largely subsistence mining practiced informally by individuals and communities) is the single largest source of mercury emissions. This is followed by coal combustion and activities like metal and cement production, disposal of mercury-containing products and releases from contaminated sites.
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There are also emissions from natural sources like volcanoes. There are also diffuse sources from the remobilization of mercury previously accumulated in terrestrial ecosystems and the oceans, from both natural and anthropogenic sources. It is important that we do not continue to add to this store of mercury that cycles in the environment – we know that we have already doubled the amount mercury in the oceans over the last 200 years of industrial development (UNEP 2013, AMAP/UNEP 2015).
How will the Convention reduce the amount of mercury entering the environment?
The Convention aims to reduce mercury emissions by setting out measures to:
- Ban new mercury mines and phase out existing ones
- Reduce the use and emissions of mercury from artisanal and small-scale gold mining (the No. 1 source of anthropogenic mercury)
- Reduce the use and emissions of mercury from industrial activities such as coal burning and metal smelting
- Phase out the use of mercury in dental amalgams and other products
- Restrict trade and prohibit manufacture of a wide range of mercury containing items such as batteries and lights
- Ensure the safer storage and proper management of mercury waste.
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Developing states committing to reducing mercury emissions
Many developing states have ratified the Convention including many states where mercury is used in gold mining e.g Indonesia, Peru and Sierra Leone. Support for countries to reduce emissions from gold mining and other activities is provided by the UN Environment Global Mercury Partnership and the recently established Global Environment Facility’s GOLD project. The GOLD project provides participating states with funding for the introduction of low and non-mercury technologies and techniques.
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GRID-Arendal is supporting the elimination of mercury from gold mining through a project that focuses on women as change makers in their communities. The project hopes to engage with women in small mining communities in Papua New Guinea and Indonesia to develop their influence – as miners, and community and family members. It will also support the introduction of mercury free mining methods and tell the story of mercury and maternal and child health.
This is the first of a GRID-Arendal series on mercury in the environment
* This article is written by Elaine Baker and Kristina Thygesen from GRID-Arendal and Charles Roche from Murdoch University, Australia
References
AMAP/UNEP, 2015. Global Mercury Modelling: Update of Modelling Results in the Global Mercury Assessment 2013. Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme, Oslo, Norway/UNEP Chemicals Branch, Geneva, Switzerland. iv + 32 pp.
Bernhoft, R.A., 2011. Mercury toxicity and treatment: a review of the literature. Journal of Environmental and Public Health, 2012.
M. Harada, T. Fujino, T. Oorui, S. Nakachi, T. Nou, T. Kizaki, et al. 2005. Follow up study of mercury pollution in indigenous tribe reservations in the Province of Ontario, Canada, 1975–2002 B Environ. Contam. Toxicol., 74 (2005), pp. 689-697
Hong, Y.S., Kim, Y.M. and Lee, K.E., 2012. Methylmercury exposure and health effects. Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, 45(6), p.353.
UNEP 2013. Global Mercury Assessment 2013: Sources, Emissions, Releases and Environmental Transport. UNEP Chemicals Branch, Geneva, Switzerland.
US EPA 2017. How does mercury threaten our health? https://www.epa.gov/international-cooperation/mercury-emissions-global-context
UNIDO 2006. Global mercury project: global impacts of mercury supply and demand in small-scale gold mining. Report to the United Nations Environment Programme Governing Council, Nairobi, Kenya, 2007. Vienna: United Nations Industrial Development Organization.