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MERCURY POLLUTION

MERCURY POLLUTION

Why in News?

Recently, Indonesia has introduced a global declaration that calls on parties to the Minamata Convention on Mercury to tackle illegal trade of mercury.

About

• The declartion was in Bali were Indonesia is hosting the fourth Conference of Parties (COP4) to the Minamata Convention on Mercury.
• Objectives of  the conference
• Develop practical tools and notification and information-sharing systems for monitoring and managing trade in mercury.
• Exchange experiences and practices relating to combating illegal trade in mercury.

Minimata Convention

• The Minamata Convention on Mercury is a global treaty to protect human health and the environment from the adverse effects of mercury and its compounds.
• It was agreed at the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee in Geneva, Switzerland 2013.
• Controlling the anthropogenic releases of mercury throughout its lifecycle is one of the key obligations under the Convention.
• The Convention also addresses interim storage of mercury and its disposal once it becomes waste, sites contaminated by mercury as well as health issues.
• Countries that have ratified the Convention are bound by international law to put these controls in place.
• India has ratified the Convention.

Mercury

• Mercury is a naturally occurring element that is found in air, water and soil.
• Exposure to mercury  even small amounts  may cause serious health problems, and is a threat to the development of the child in utero and early in life.
• Mercury may have toxic effects on the nervous, digestive and immune systems, and on lungs, kidneys, skin and eyes.
• Mercury is considered by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as one of the top ten chemicals.
• People are mainly exposed to methylmercury, (an organic compound) when they eat fish.
• Methylmercury is very different from ethylmercury. Ethylmercury is used as a preservative in some vaccines and does not pose a health risk.

 

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