Summary
Mercury has long been used in gold plating, thermometers, fluorescent lights, etc. While it is a useful metal, it is highly toxic, as evidenced by the outbreak of Minamata disease in Japan in the 1950s. While countermeasures are progressing in Japan, there are concerns around the world about the health effects of anthropogenic emissions from artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) and other industries. Therefore, an international framework was called for based on scientific data on mercury pollution around the world, and as a result, the Minamata Convention was adopted in 2013 and adopted into force in 2017.
This session hosted by the Environmental Restoration and Conservation Agency (ERCA) had presentations and a panel discussion on issues related to the management of mercury to enhance the effectiveness of the measures taken under the Convention, focusing on the achievements and challenges of such measures.
The first speaker gave a presentation on mercury emissions and mercury-related risks based on future scenarios. He stated that the effectiveness of the Minamata Convention will increase through constant efforts to improve it.
The second speaker focused on the side effects of countermeasures, giving examples such as decarbonisation measures and mercury countermeasures in ASGM. He mentioned the need to identify the co-benefits and trade-offs of each measure through scenario analysis, and to consider the cost of formulating such measures.
The third speaker reported on the results of observing atmospheric mercury concentrations at an ASGM site in Indonesia using passive samplers.
Key Messages- It is important to analyse multiple future projection scenarios for emissions, determine the effectiveness of countermeasures, and formulate more strategic mercury monitoring guidelines.
- When quantifying future scenarios for mercury emissions, the key to successful quantification is to incorporate factors other than the Minamata Convention into the elaboration process, such as the effects of rapidly advancing decarbonisation measures (e.g. reduced coal combustion and increased biomass power generation) and increased demand for resources due to economic growth. In addition, factors such as the movement of mercury associated with illicit trade and the sequestration and management of waste mercury must also be taken into account when implementing mercury control measures.
- In assessing the human health effects of mercury contamination and exposure, it is important to determine detailed concentrations and to assess the risks to health. A trial assessment in Indonesia, one of the countries with a large number of ASGM workers, will provide an opportunity to develop effective observation methods and to conduct scientific health risk assessments based on exposure levels.
