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Mercury Uses and Releases

Mercury Uses and Releases. Presented by Michael Bender Mercury Policy Project/ Zero Mercury Working Group www.mercurypolicy.org UNEP Mercury Products Meeting Bangkok, Thailand 17 May 2007. Background on the Mercury Policy Project & Zero Mercury Working Group.

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Mercury Uses and Releases

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  1. Mercury Uses and Releases Presented by Michael Bender Mercury Policy Project/ Zero Mercury Working Group www.mercurypolicy.org UNEP Mercury Products Meeting Bangkok, Thailand 17 May 2007

  2. Background on the Mercury Policy Project & Zero Mercury Working Group --The Mercury Policy Project was formed in 1998 to reduce mercury pollution, use, export and exposure to mercury --The Zero Mercury Working Group is a coalition of 48 public interest NGOs from around the world formed in 2005 to reduce global supply, demand and emissions of mercury.

  3. Summary of Presentation • Overview: Global Mercury Cycle, Transport and Fate • Types of Mercury Emissions • Major Mercury Sources and Uses • Conclusion

  4. TRANSPORT: GLOBAL CYCLE OF MERCURY From various sources, mercury is emitted into the atmosphere and circulated globally www.epa.gov/grtlakes/seahome/mercury/src/presmerc.htm EPA

  5. Categories of Mercury Release • Natural (i.e. volcanoes) • Human-caused • Related to mercury use • Related to processing of materials with trace amounts of mercury occurring naturally • Re-emissions of mercury already in environment

  6. TRANSPORT: GLOBAL CYCLE OF MERCURY Ultimately enters water bodies and deposits • Close to source • Long distance from source global pollution EPA

  7. FATE Metabolic conversion and bio-accumulation through “food-chain” • MeHg enters the aquatic food chain: fish, marine and freshwater • Hg in sediments converts into methyl-mercury (MeHg) • MeHg uptake by humans through fish consumption EPA

  8. Global mercury deposition has increased three-fold since the Industrial Revolution • Natural emissions (i.e.vocanoes, etc.) estimated at 2000 tons per year • Atmospheric emissions from human activities are in the range of 2000 to 2400 tons per year • Quantities from the re-emission of previously deposited anthropogenic mercury releases are thought to be 2000 tons per year. • Total deposition from all sources: over 6,000 tons per year

  9. --Major atmospheric mercury releases detected in ice coresamples--70% of the mercury released in the last 100 years man made

  10. Global anthropogenic emissions of total mercury to the atmosphere 3000 Africa Asia Australia Europe North America South America 2500 2000 Metric tons 1500 1000 500 0 1990 1995 2000 2005 While mercury emissions are decreasing in North America and Europe, they are increasing primarily in Asia Maxson, 2007

  11. Mercury Releases From Major Sources 70% comes from 2 sources: • Coal combustion– estimated to be the largest global source of emissions • Incineration of wastes containing mercury Other significant sources: • Cement production • Smelting of ferrous and nonferrous ores.

  12. Largest Uses of Mercury • Small-scale gold mining • A large problem, but our understanding of the sector, and ability to address it, is improving • VCM-Vinyl chloride monomer (for polyvinyl chloride (PVC) production • Large and growing user (China and a few plants in Russia) • Chlor-alkali mercury-cell plants • Relatively small number (130 worldwide) • Larger number of polluting plants have received little attention • Batteries • Most produced in China, Hg mainly used in button batteries • Also produced in Japan • Measuring Devices • Thought to be produced mainly in China, but some from India

  13. Maxson, 2006

  14. This is a general view of a Spanish electrolysis plant that uses the mercury process and the cellroom of a mercury chlorine electrolysis plant. (Photo courtesy Euro Chlor)

  15. Mercury in Artisanal & Small Scale Gold Mining • Hg use estimated 800 tons consumed annually • 10-15 million Artisanal miners worldwide, with 100 million people dependent on income • This results in much human exposure to mercury and pollution in disadvantaged communities • Demonstration projects show reduction, Hg-free alternatives—w/sensitivity to local situation • Major challenge is to get governments to recognize problem; embrace UNIDO GMP solutions

  16. Conclusion: • Intentional use of Hg in products and processes is avoidable in most cases. • Hg-alternatives exist; challenge is availability, cost, creating demand, and economies of scale • Phasing out use of mercury will reduce pollution & worldwide mercury demand • Pollution control equipment is available to reduce mercury emissions from major air sources, yet additional cost must be factored in • Partnerships with measurable reduction goals and strategies are a good step forward • Ultimately, binding Hg agreements will be needed to address both export and product bans

  17. Acknowledgements Thanks to the following organizations and individuals for sharing ideas and/or slides for this presentation: -David Lennett, NRDC www.nrdc.org -Peter Maxson, Concorde East/West, Inc. -Alexis Caine, US EPA Region 5

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