Over the last several days mercury experts have reported to the Economic Information Daily (a publication of Xinhua) that as the world’s largest producer of mercury and mercury emissions, China faces enormous challenges with the prevention and control of mercury pollution. They reported that the basic research on the production and disposal of mercury is weak, and that the country lacks economically viable alternatives to the use of mercury in industrial production and admissions-reduction technology, among other problems. This comes in light of the upcoming UNEP global mercury treaty negotiations, the third round of which takes place on October 30th, when representatives from more than 130 countries will meet at a conference in Nairobi.
Mercury is used widely in Chinese industrial production, and also in small scale or manual gold mining. It’s used in the manufacture of PVC products, batteries, electric lights, and electronic devices. It’s found in many common household items—computer circuit boards, cosmetics, thermometers, blood pressure monitors, and batteries. The health risks for mercury intake are serious. Mercury can cause brain damage and stunted development in children, and in adults it can cause permanent damage to the liver, kidneys, reproductive system, and central nervous system.
According to Feng Xin Bin, a mercury expert at the Institute of Geochemistry at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, mercury evaporates easily and can remain suspended in the atmosphere for up to a year. It settles into the food chain, concentrating primarily in sea animals like fish. UNEP research has found fish in Nordic areas with high levels of mercury content. The trans-border nature of mercury contamination makes mercury pollution a global problem.
Feng and his research team reported that in 2005-2006 China accounted for 60% of the world’s mercury production and about 30-40% of the world’s mercury demand, in addition to being the largest producer of mercury emissions. He also reported that of the 2,000 tons of anthropogenic mercury emissions worldwide, China was responsible for 500-600 tons. One major source of mercury emissions in China comes from PVC production, where mercury continues to be used as a chemical catalyzing agent—in most other places PVC production uses natural oil or gas, via ethylene. By 2012 in China PVC production is predicted to reach 10 million tons, the consumption of mercury catalyzer will reach 12,000 tons, and the consumption of pure mercury will exceed 1,000 tons.
China is currently undergoing a nationwide investigation into the sources and status of mercury pollution, data which will be used to develop management strategies for dealing with mercury emissions according the guidelines established by the UNEP mercury treaty.
Several NGOs, including Global Village Beijing (GBV), are working in China to monitor mercury pollution and encourage the use of mercury alternatives. Feng Xin Bin and his research team reported that the government must increase industry regulations, as well as promote widespread education about the dangers of mercury poisoning.
