Minamata convention

1. A
Discussion
on MINAMATA
CONVENTION
-Nabin Lamichhane

2. Mercury….
• Mercury ore (cinnabar) used as pigment since Neolithic era (found
in 10,000 yr old cave paintings)
• Ancient Romans, Chinese used as rouge makeup
• Pigment mixed with wax for document seals in Middle Ages
• Syphilis Treatment
- 15th Century onward
- abandoned 1940 for penicillin
• Recognized as cause of disease in 19th Century (Hunter-Russell
Syndrome)
• Used in late-19th Century to extract silver from pulverized ore
• Diuretic (used through mid-20th Century)
• Used as a preservative in latex paints until banned by EPA in 1991
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3. Mercury
• Hg miners at high risk
• Found today in Chinese medications, skin
lightening creams, hair dyes
• Half from volcanic eruptions and other geological
processes
• Released into air by coal combustion, industrial
processes, mining, and waste disposal
– 4500 tons/yr
• Travels throughout atmosphere and settles in
oceans and waterways
• Bacteria convert it to toxic methyl-mercury
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4. Mercury
• Mercury used to capture gold particles as an
amalgam and used in gold mines.
• Other sources of mercury:
–Deforestation and runoff
–Industrial boilers
–Tooth fillings
–Car batteries
–Cosmetics
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5. Toxic Level of Mercury
• Mercury levels in air, blood, urine:
–“Normal” level = 5 mcg/l
–20 mcg/l – 100 mcg/l = subacute
toxicity, consider treatment
–>100 mcg/l in blood and/or urine =
toxic, treat
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11. History of Minamata
• Chisso Corporation was released Mercury in minamata bay (Southern
Japan, Shiranui Sea, Fishing village, Villagers: fisherman/Chisso
Corporation employees and their families)
• 1925 - local fishing cooperative compensated for decreased catch
• 1950s - bizarre behavioral changes observed in birds, marine fish, land
vertebrates
• 1950s / 1960s - reports in Japanese medical journals about human cases
• 1956 - cause (MeHg) of Minamata Disease elucidated
• 1958-60 - reports in English medical journals
• 1965 - fishing banned in Minamata Bay after similar events noted in
Niigata, Japan
• 1968 - all acetaldehyde-producing plants ceased operating
• 1970 - Japan Water Pollution Control Act, Allowed no detectable Hg or
MeHg in waste water
• 1997 – Minamata Bay declared free of mercury
• 2004 – Japanese Supreme Court rules government shares responsibility
for epidemic (government slow to react, cut off research funding in 1962)
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13. Minamata Convention….
• A set of legally binding measures to curb
mercury pollution
–As of 10/16/14, 128 countries have
signed and 6 (including the U.S.) have
ratified
–Takes effect 90 days after 50 nations
ratify
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14. Minamata Conventio
– Bans Hg-containing batteries by 2020 (button-cell batteries exempt)
– Bans switches and relays with Hg by 2020
– Limits Hg in soaps and some cosmetics
– Bans Hg in medical devices by 2020
– Exempts religious and traditional uses of Hg
– Bans use in certain types of manufacturing
• Japan – Asia’s largest exporter of mercury
• Japanese industry fighting treaty/trade ban
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15. Convention document
• Preamble
• Article 1 Objective: The objective of this Convention is
to protect the human health and the environment from
anthropogenic emissions and releases of mercury and
mercury compounds.
• Article 2 Definitions
• Article 3 Mercury supply sources and trade
• Article 4 Mercury-added products
• ………………………upto 35 articles
• Annexes A to E
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18. Thank You!!