EcoLur
Communities in developing countries are facing increasing health and environmental risks linked to exposure to mercury, according to new studies by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The UNEP study is prepared for the meeting of UNEP in Geneva from 13-18 January 2013. Parts of Africa, Asia and South America could see increasing emissions of mercury into the environment, due mainly to the use of the toxic element in small-scale gold mining, and through the burning of coal for electricity generation.
“Mercury has been known as a toxin and a hazard for centuries-but today we have many of the alternative technologies and processes needed to reduce the risks for tens of millions of people, including pregnant mothers and their babies. A good outcome can also assist in a more sustainable future for generations to come," said United Nations Under-Secretary-General and UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner.
It has been established that emissions of the toxic metal from artisanal gold mining have doubled since 2005 due to rising gold prices that are expected to lead to further increases. Other sources of emissions are as follows: cement production, fuel extraction and combustion of fossil fuels, electronic devices, cosmetics, dentistry, manufacture of poly vinyl chloride, primary mining - although the practice is now limited to a handful of countries with only one (Kyrgyzstan) still exporting.
The report says an estimated 260 tonnes of mercury - previously held in soils - are being released into rivers and lakes. Mercury contaminated the world's oceans, where in the top 100 metres of the world's oceans the amount of mercury doubled in the past 100 years, while its concentrations in deeper waters have increased by up to 25 per cent.
It should be noted that the absolute majority of gold mines developed in Armenia also contain mercury as an accompanying element. Nevertheless, none of the projects or none of the opinion of the environmental opinion on mining doesn’t say anything about mercury. No measures for risk reduction of mercury contamination are designed. There is no governmental order for permanent monitoring of territories under probable exposure of mercury emissions, though under the assessment of the Center for Environmental Noosphere Studies for 2006, mercury contaminated the land areas in Syunik community, next to Kapan.
January 15, 2013 at 14:17