Mercury Pollution

In Context

• Indonesia, as well as the United Nations, have sought support and commitment from parties to the Minamata Convention for a Bali Declaration on combatting the Global Illegal Trade of Mercury.

About

• The issue is being discussed at the fourth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention on Mercury (COP-4.2).
• The conference is being held from 21st to 25th March 2022.
• The non-binding declaration calls upon parties to:
  • 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, including reducing the use of mercury in artisanal and small-scale gold mining.
  • Share examples of national legislation and data and information related to such trade.

Minamata Convention on Mercury

• It is a UN global treaty to protect human health and the environment from the adverse effects of mercury and its compounds. 
• The Minamata Convention is named after the Japanese city of Minamata, which experienced a severe, decades-long incidence of mercury poisoning after industrial wastewater from a chemical factory was discharged into Minamata Bay. 
• It was agreed at the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee in Geneva, Switzerland in 2013. 
• More than 140 countries have ratified the Convention. India has ratified the Convention.
• The major highlights of the Minamata Convention on Mercury include a ban on new mercury mines, the phase-out of existing mines and mercury-added products, as well as control measures on air emissions. 
• The Convention also addresses interim storage of mercury and its disposal once it becomes waste, sites contaminated by mercury as well as health issues.

What is Mercury?

• About:
  • Mercury is a naturally occurring element that is found in air, water and soil. Released into the atmosphere through natural processes such as weathering of rocks, volcanic eruptions, geothermal activities, forest fires, etc. Mercury is also released through human activities.
  • 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 or groups of chemicals of major public health concern.
• Minamata Disease: 
  • A disorder caused by methylmercury poisoning that was first described in the inhabitants of Minamata Bay, Japan and resulted from their eating fish contaminated with mercury industrial waste.
  • Minamata disease is characterized by peripheral sensory loss, tremors, and both hearing and visual loss.
  • Methylmercury is very different from ethylmercury. Ethylmercury is used as a preservative in some vaccines and does not pose a health risk.

Mercury pollution of India

• India is the second-largest user of mercury in the world after the US, although India does not mine or produce mercury – instead imports most of its requirements.
  • Globally, Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining (ASGM) is the largest source of anthropogenic mercury emissions (37.7%), followed by stationary combustion of coal (21%).
• High levels of mercury in fish stocks have been found, mainly in coastal areas. Mumbai, Kolkata, Karwar (in Karnataka) and North Koel (in Bihar) are some of the severely affected areas.

Government Initiatives

• The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974
• The Environment Protection Act, 1986
• The Workmen Compensation Act, 1923
• The Factories (Amendment) Act, 1987
• The Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991
• The Municipal Solid Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules, 2000

Source: DTE