Mercury Pollution

Mercury Pollution

Subject: Economy

Section: Pollution  

Context: Kodaikanal Mercury Poisoning Episode Has Lessons for Current, Future Generations

Mercury:

• Mercury is a chemical element with the symbol Hg and atomic number 80.
• Mercury is a naturally occurring element that is found in air, water and soil.
• It is a dense, silvery-white metal.
• It is the only metal that is liquid at room temperature.
• Mercury has a relatively low melting point and boiling point compared to other metals
• It is useful in various applications, such as thermometers, barometers, electrical switches, and fluorescent lamp Mercury is also used in dental amalgams and in some medical and scientific instruments.

Sources of Mercury Pollution

• Mercury pollution can come from both natural and human-made sources. Natural sources of mercury pollution include volcanic eruptions, forest fires, and weathering of mercury-containing rocks. However, the majority of mercury pollution is caused by human activities, including:
  • Coal-fired power plants: Coal contains trace amounts of mercury, which are released into the air when coal is burned. These emissions can travel long distances and accumulate in the environment.
  • Artisanal and small-scale gold mining: Mercury is used to extract gold from ore in small-scale gold mining operations. It can release large amounts of mercury into the air and water, causing serious health and environmental problems.
  • Industrial processes: Certain industrial processes, such as chlorine production, can release mercury into the air and water.
  • Waste incineration: Burning waste, particularly medical waste, can release mercury into the air.
  • Consumer products: Mercury is used in some consumer products, such as thermometers, fluorescent light bulbs, and batteries.

Effects of Mercury Pollution

• Mercury pollution can have a wide range of negative effects on human health, wildlife, and the environment. Here are some of the major effects of mercury pollution:
• Health effects: Mercury is a toxic substance that can cause serious health problems, particularly to children and pregnant women. Exposure to high levels of mercury can damage the brain, kidneys, and central nervous system, leading to developmental delays, impaired cognitive function, and other health problems.
• Wildlife impacts: Mercury pollution can have serious impacts on wildlife, particularly fish and other aquatic species. Mercury can accumulate in the food chain, with larger fish at the top of the chain containing higher levels of mercury. This can lead to reproductive failure, decreased growth and survival rates, and other health problems for wildlife.
• Environmental impacts: Mercury pollution can also have a range of environmental impacts, including reduced biodiversity, changes in species distribution, and decreased nutrient cycling in ecosystems. In addition, mercury pollution can contribute to climate change, as mercury emissions can lead to the formation of ozone, a potent greenhouse gas.
• Economic impacts: Mercury pollution can also have significant economic impacts, including reduced fish populations, decreased tourism revenue, and increased health care costs associated with mercury exposure.

Minamata Convention on Mercury

• The Minamata Convention on Mercury is a global treaty to protect human health and the environment from the adverse effects of mercury and its compounds.
• It was agreed at the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee in Geneva, Switzerland 2013.
• The Convention also addresses interim storage of mercury and its disposal once it becomes waste, sites contaminated by mercury as well as health issues.
• The Convention covers all aspects of the life cycle of mercury, controlling and reducing mercury across a range of products, processes and industries. This includes controls on mercury mining, the manufacture and trade of mercury and products containing mercury, disposal of mercury waste, emissions of mercury from industrial facilities.
• India has ratified the Convention.