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R O O M D O C U M E N T

Document will be available in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish

ABSTRACTS

List of Contents

• Overview presentation: setting the scene

Supply side & demand side issues; product emissions

Ravi Agarwal (Toxics Link)

• Ongoing efforts at EU on mercury legislation

Stina Andersson (EC) and,

Hungarian aspects regarding restrictions of mercury in products

Kristof Kozak (Hungary)

• Management of health and environmental effects of artisinal gold mining

from a developing country perspective

Jules de Kom (Suriname)

• Health and Environmental Risk Assessment Among Mother and Child Residents Living Near an Abandoned Mercury Mine: A Toxic Legacy

Ethelyn P. Nieto (Philippines)

• Case studies: Occupational exposures and solutions

Bjorn Erikson (ICTFU)

• Heavy metal pollution in different environmental media

in Africa: problems and prospects (with a case study from Nigeria)

Abiola Olanipekun and Alo Babajidi (Nigeria)

• Global Partnerships for Mercury Reduction Progress Presentation

Charlie Auer and John Shoaff (USA)

• Prospects for sound chemicals management of cadmium, lead and mercury - an industry perspective

John Atherton (ICMM)

• Mercury and Other Metals Programme Activities

Maged Younes (UNEP)

• WHO Programmes and Activities on Mercury, Lead and Cadmium

Jenny Pronczuk (WHO)

• UNIDO Activities

Pablo Huidobro (UNIDO)

• The Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution ((LRTAP Convention):

Ongoing work on Heavy Metals at the UNECE

Brinda Wachs (UNECE)

Overview presentation: setting the scene.

Supply side & demand side issues; product emissions.

Ravi Agarwal, Toxics Link, India

Abstract:

This overview presentation outlines the information and issues relating to global demand (including chief uses) and supply trends of three heavy metals: lead, cadmium and mercury. It also highlights the emission and releases from products or processes containing or using these metals. Finally, a very brief perspective of a civil society perspective for the way ahead is provided.

These three heavy metals, as well as their alloys and compounds, have been used in a variety of products and processes over time, as part of the global industrial economy. They are still internationally traded, and their prices reflect a demand and supply relationship. However, of late there is increasing concern about their impacts on human health and the environment.

The main sources of all three heavy metals are natural, through mining, as they are present as salts or minerals in rock and soil. There are several such mines, operating in several different parts of the world. Supply sources are separate for mercury, but lead and cadmium can occur together. Secondary supply sources are from recycling and stockpiles, and are a significant contributor to the global supply.

There are a very wide variety of products currently in use, in sectors like energy, health care, electronics, toys, and chemicals etc., which contain one or more of these heavy metals. Almost all of them have commercially viable alternatives today. These products are globally traded. The infrastructure as well as policy frameworks present for dealing with their health and environmental effect, varies widely in different countries though.

Several industrial processes, such as chlor alkali production (which uses mercury), thermal power generation etc, use or emit these heavy metals as by- product emissions to air and water, and are a major concern.

In the recent past, especially over the past decade, the use of these heavy metals, as well as emissions have either reduced significantly, or their rates of increase have come down in developed countries. There are however rising trends in rapidly industrializing countries like India and China. Sectors such as coal based power generation, urban transportation and waste disposal are contributing to the new releases.

Global airborne transport of these metals is another concern. While mercury has been demonstrated to globally transport, even lead and cadmium may be so transported, as ice samples studies in Greenland have revealed.

Specific Heavy Metals:

Lead:

Demand: Global use of refined lead rose by 2.8% to 6.98 mt in 2004 and further to 7.13 mt in 2005. The United States is the largest consumer of lead, but its demand is steady. China’s usage increased by more than 8% over 2004-5, and has doubled since 2000 owing to use in batteries. Demand rises are forecast in Germany and Czech Republic as well as India, but are declining in the UK and France.

Sources and supply: Significant sources of lead are based in the United States Alaska, Australia, Canada, China, Ireland, Mexico, Peru and Portugal totaling over 1.5 billion tons.

Uses: The demand for lead is mostly for use in automobile and back up power batteries (71%). Other uses include rolled extruded sheets for construction (7%); special use pipes such as in for chemical transport, cable sheathing (3%), stained glass windows, as weights, lead-clad steel, powder for plastisisers, specialized corrosion resistant paints and ammunition (6%)

Lead alloys include batteries (lead-antimony), solder (lead-tin) and radioactive shielding. Lead compounds include petrol anti-knock additives, stabilizers for PVC, crystal glass, ceramic glazes, pigments (12%)- red, yellow (lead chromate), and orange (lead molybdate. Use of lead in petrol has been largely discontinued and being phased out where it still exists.

Cadmium:

Demand and Uses: 77% of the global cadmium use is for NiCd batteries, while 11% is used for pigments, 8% for coatings and the remaining 4% for misc. uses. The use of this metal is shrinking in developed countries or regions like the EU, however there could be rising demand from China and India.

Supply: Globally the main supply is from Asia (41%), the Americas (16%), Europe (15%) and Australia (3%). The remaining 25% is recovered from recycling and stockpiles.

Emissions and releases: Neither cadmium or lead have a global distribution as gaseous atmospheric pollutants. But both are attached to particulates and thus primarily have a local and regional distribution. Long-range transport of cadmium and lead by air is nevertheless reflected in ice core samples from Greenland.

Cadmium is not degradable and once released to the environment, stays in circulation. New releases add to the already existing deposits of cadmium in the environment. Cadmium and cadmium compounds are relatively water-soluble. They are therefore also more mobile in e.g. soil, generally more bio available and tend to bioaccumulation.

Mercury:

Demand and uses: Globally mercury consumption was as follows: Batteries, chlor alkali, small scale gold and silver mining, dental amalgam, measuring and control, electrical control and switching, lighting, and other uses.

Supply: The main sources of mercury are from Spain and Kyrgyzstan, while Algiers was a supplier till some time ago. The situation in China is less clear, and recent reports show increasing use in VCM production and in batteries. Secondary mercury is obtained from Finland and Peru besides others. In-use mercury worldwide can exceed 24000 to 30,000 mt in Chlor Alkali facilities alone, with half of this in the EU. Recoverable mercury in waste and products could exceed 20000 to 30,000 mt. The EU and the US are net exporters of mercury, while small-scale mining accounts for 650 to 1000 tonnes consumed annually.

Emissions: Point sources. Combustion of coal is today deemed the single largest global source of atmospheric mercury emissions. Mercury is also emitted to air from metal production plants, crematoria, mercury-cell chlor-alkali plants, waste incinerators and other point sources.

The EU Mercury Strategy

Stina Andersson, European Commission, DG Environment

The EU Mercury Strategy[1] takes actions to further reduce the emissions and uses of mercury. A key aim is to reduce mercury levels in the environment and human exposure, especially from methylmercury in fish. It is an overall Strategy containing twenty actions, seven of which support and promote international actions.

One key element is the export ban of mercury from the EU by 2011. The EU is the major exporters of mercury and a continued unrestricted supply is a significant driver for use of mercury and hinders the innovation of mercury-free products and processes.

A safe storage solution is needed for surplus mercury; if not handled in a safe and sustainable way it will cause considerable environmental damage. The phase-out of mercury cells in the chlor-alkali industry will give approximately 12000 tons of surplus mercury and different storage possibilities are being investigated in order to find a safe solution.

Further restrictions for mercury in products are proposed. One mercury product group not covered by legislation is measuring and control equipment, e.g. thermometers and barometers. There is good availability of substitutes and marketing restrictions have recently been proposed by the Commission[2]. Also, a study looking at all remaining uses of mercury will be carried out to find out where further actions would be appropriate.

Coal combustion is the largest source of mercury in the EU (and globally), accounting for about 50% of remaining EU emissions today. Existing legislation[3] and changes in coal use should bring about some reduction in emissions. However, further measures are needed, i.e. there is still no legislation in place for small-scale combustion installations, which are also significant mercury sources. The Commission is investigating options to reduce mercury emissions from small-scale coal combustion.

To solve the mercury problem global action is needed. Measures need to be taken to phase out globally the production of new mercury from cinnabar, and to prevent mercury surpluses going back to the market. Co-operation with developing countries is planned and the EU is also supporting international initiatives, such as the UNEP Global Mercury Programme.

Hungarian aspects regarding restrictions of mercury in products

Kristóf Kozák, Chief Counselor

Waste Management and Technology, Ministry of Environment and Water, Hungary

Hungary shares the concerns regarding the harmful effects of mercury on man and the environment and endorses the policy actions as outlined in the Community’s Strategy[4]. On the other hand, the national opinion on the planned restrictive measures[5] respects the variety of products containing mercury, currently produced, marketed and used in Hungary. This presentation is aimed at giving examples on such products along with the impacts of the restrictive provisions.

Fluorescent lamps and light tubes containing mercury are produced in Hungary both for domestic use and for export. These types of products fall under the scope of the RoHS directive[6] which is already transposed by the Hungarian law[7]. The manufacturers are obliged to meet strict limit values from the deadline, which needs the development of the products. Their achievements are discussed in the presentation.

Fever thermometers containing mercury are widely used by households as well as in hospitals and other medical facilities. Althouh digital devices are commercially available, the conventional devices are still preferred due to their low cost and high precision. The presentation highlights the expected outcome of the planned regulation.

Sphygmomanometers are prevailingly used in the healthcare sector. Devices containing mercury are preferred in contrast with non-mercury alternatives. The draft rules enable the use of mercury based devices by healthcare professionals, and the change to alternative products shall take time. The presentation deals with the pros and cons of mercury based sphygmomanometers and their envisaged replacement.

Management of Health and Environmental Effects of Artisanal Gold Mining from a Developing Country Perspective

Jules de Kom, Ph.D.

Toxicology Focal Point, Ministry of Public Health, Paramaribo, Suriname

Abstract

In the 1990s in Suriname, a revival of artisinal gold mining activities took place, a second boom after a decline in the beginning of the 20th century. These mining activities are located in the tropical rainforest and for the extraction of the gold mainly mercury is used. The informal and often illegal character of the mining activities hampers a reliable estimate of the number of miners involved and production figures. At the moment it is estimated that at least 12,000 workers are active in the sector with Brazilian workers outnumbering local workers. The total production estimates range from 10,000 to 20,000 kilograms annually. The mining activities are located near traditional Maroon and Amerindian communities and have an impact on the environment, occupational health of the gold miners and the health of the local communities. While these broad risks associated with this type of gold mining are generally recognized, there is limited comprehensive and reliable information about the actual situation on which to base interventions to rectify the identified problems. Exceptions are the project activities of recent years which focus on improving mining techniques and the abatement or recycling of mercury.

In the presentation the obstacles identified and possible approaches to manage the environmental health aspects and related problems will be discussed from a developing country perspective. In the approaches discussed attention will be given to regional and international collaboration.

Health and Environmental Risk Assessment Among Mother and Child Residents Living Near an Abandoned Mercury Mine: A Toxic Legacy

Presented By

ETHELYN P. NIETO, M.D., M.P.H., M.H.A.

Undersecretary of Health, Department of Health-Philippines

IFCS Vice-President for Asia-Pacific

in behalf of the research team

Nelia P.C. Maramba1, Jose Paciano Reyes1, Ana Trinidad Francisco-Rivera2, Lynn Crisanta R. Panganiban1, Carissa Dioquino1, Nerissa Dando1, Rene Timbang2 , Hirokatsu Akagi3 , Ma. Teresa Castillo4, Carmela Quitoriano4, Maredith Afuang4, Akito Matsuyama3, Tomomi Eguchi 3 and Youko Fuchigami 3

1 National Poison Control and Information Service, University of the Philippines-Manila, e-mail:

2 Environmental and Occupational Health Office, National Center for Disease Prevention

and Control, Department of Health, Manila, Philippines e-mail:

3 National Institute for Minamata Disease, Japan, e-mail:

4Center for Health Development for MIMAROPA, Department of Health

5 Batangas Regional Hospital-Department of Health

Abstract:

Abandoned mines is an important global concern that continue to pose real or potential threat to human safety and health including environmental damage/s. Generally, abandoned or inactive mines are sites where advanced exploration, mining or mine production ceased without rehabilitation. In the early days, land used for mining was left without any remediation effort whenever mine extraction activities were completed, and without a full understanding of the environmental impacts and before environmental regulations existed. Very few countries have government mine regulation and reclamation policies until the latter part of the century where legal, financial and technical procedures were required for existing mining operations.

In Hg mining, secondary mercury phases form and accumulate in mine wastes. These phases are more soluble in cinnabar, the primary ore mineral. Release and transport of Hg from mine waste occur particularly as Hg-enriched particles and colloids. Conversion of relatively stable inorganic Hg compounds to bioavailable organic mercury compounds such as methylmercury is a potential hazard around these mercury mines. Abandoned mercury mines has been identified as a major concern because of its significant long-term environmental problem.

Recognizing that the developing nervous system is especially vulnerable to effects of Me-Hg exposure with fetuses and neonates as the most sensitive subpopulation, the National Research Council and the Environmental Protection Agency has recently recommended a reference dose (RfD) of 0.1 ug/kgbw/day level for maternal-fetal pairs. These guidelines aims to protect children from delays and deficits in neurological development secondary to exposure to MeHg in utero. At present the effects of THg combined with Me-Hg consumption remain an important issue especially those of low-dose and continuous uptake. However, information on the effects of low and prolonged exposure of THg and MeHg to offspring throughout their prenatal and postnatal periods have been limited. This study compares possible health risks of lower level at chronic exposure to THg and MeHg in communities situated near a former mercury mine and a control group with minimal or limited exposure.

The abandoned mercury mine located southeast of Manila was in operation from 1955 to 1976 and produced about 140,000 kg of mercury yearly. Approximately 2,000,000 tons of mine-waste calcines (retorted ore) were produced during mining and roughly 1,000,000 tons of these calcines were dumped into nearby Honda Bay to construct a jetty to facilitate mine operations where about 2,000 people reside in the nearby three barangays . Most of the mine tailings were dumped into the nearby sea until and artificial peninsula 600 meters long and 50 meters wide was created. There are now an estimated 300-400 people who live in this Sitio Honda Bay which juts into the eastern portion of Palawan. Possible pathways of mercury exposure that can affect human populations in these communities can be due to direct inhalation of Hg-containing particulates/dusts, ingestion of mercury via the hand to mouth activity among children, consumption of mercury contaminated food such as fish consumed by people who depend on riverine products for food sources and agricultural products.Thus, most of the communities near the abandoned mines and possibly the general population would be at risk of exposure to toxic levels of mercury especially those whose diet included consumption of marine/aquatic products.