The Minamata Convention on Mercury, established to shield both human health and the environment from the hazardous effects of mercury and its compounds, is a globally recognized treaty. This agreement was reached during the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee in Geneva, Switzerland in 2013. One of the fundamental responsibilities under this convention is to control the anthropogenic releases of mercury throughout its lifecycle.
The convention addresses not only the storage of mercury but also its disposal when it becomes waste. In addition, it deals with mercury-contaminated sites and health-related issues. The comprehensive convention handles all aspects of mercury’s life cycle, enforcing controls across various products, processes, and industries. This includes restrictions on mercury mining, mercury production and trade, mercury-containing product disposal, and industrial facility mercury emissions. Countries ratifying the convention are legally obligated to implement these controls. India is among the nations that have ratified the convention.
The Threat of Mercury Pollution
Mercury is a naturally existing element found in air, water, and soil. Exposure to even small amounts of mercury can lead to severe health issues, posing a significant threat to child development both in utero and early in life. Mercury can potentially have toxic effects on our nervous, digestive, and immune systems, as well as our lungs, kidneys, skin, and eyes.
Listed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as one of the top ten chemical groups causing major public health concern, mercury exposure primarily occurs through the consumption of fish and shellfish containing methylmercury, an organic compound. This exposure puts individuals at an elevated risk of developing Minamata disease, a disorder caused by methylmercury poisoning first identified among inhabitants of Minamata Bay, Japan, who consumed fish contaminated with mercury industrial waste. The condition is characterized by peripheral sensory loss, tremors, and both hearing and visual loss. Notably, methylmercury differs significantly from ethylmercury, a preservative used in some vaccines that does not pose a health threat.
Mercury Emission Sources
Mercury emissions can be traced back to both natural and anthropogenic (human-caused) sources. Natural sources encompass volcanic eruptions and ocean emissions, while anthropogenic emissions include mercury released from fuels or raw materials, or from applications in products or industrial processes.
Globally, Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining (ASGM) triumphs as the largest source of anthropogenic mercury emissions (37.7%), followed by stationary combustion of coal (21%). Other significant emission sources include non-ferrous metals production (15%) and cement production (11%). ASGM sector employs between 10-20 million people globally, many of whom use mercury daily.
Indonesia’s Declaration on Mercury Trade
Recently, Indonesia introduced a global declaration that urges parties to the Minamata Convention on Mercury to address illegal mercury trade. This declaration was presented in Nusa Dua, Bali, during the fourth Conference of Parties (COP4) to the Minamata Convention on Mercury, held from 21st to 25th March 2022.
The non-binding declaration seeks to develop practical tools and notification and information sharing systems for monitoring and managing mercury trade. It also encourages exchanging experiences and practices relating to combating illegal mercury trade, reducing mercury use in artisanal and small-scale gold mining, and sharing examples of national legislation and data related to such trade.
