In the wake of excitement on the Indian Government’s decision on becoming mercury free, NGO Toxics link’s report “Mercury Free India-Right Choices”, highlights the fact that once mercury is released into environment, it bio-accumulates and bio-magnifies up food chain, and easily enters human body passing through skin, blood-brain & placental barrier.
Its persistent nature slowly affects central nervous systems, kidneys, etc., of adults, children and also the foetus; and the symptoms show up as abnormal brain development, kidney damage and many other fatal diseases. Toxics link works for the ban of various hazardous wastes in the country pitching for ban in mercury in India and elsewhere.
According to the study, the country at present, does not produce any mercury, and all its domestic demands are met through imports. It imported 165 tons of mercury in 2012-13, out of which 45 tons were exported to other countries in the same year, which reflects the rest is being used for internal product manufacturing.
The study notes that this dangerous metal has nearly 3,000 industrial applications. Besides healthcare products, it is also used in paints, cosmetics, compact fluorescent lamps (CFls), electrical switches and fertilisers. The CFl sector alone generates 8.3 tonnes of mercury waste annually, which ultimately land up in the cities’ landfills/become air borne and pose grave threat to the environment.
It said the use of mercury in various products and processes account for a large amount of mercury waste that ultimately end up in air, soil, surface and groundwater. The recently signed Minamata Convention by India bans the production, import and export of products that contain mercury by 2020. It will allow its use in certain critical areas, specifically healthcare, for the next four years. The Convention gives the 120 signatory countries another 15 years to end all mining of mercury. They will be encouraged to gradually reduce their use of mercury in a phased manner.
The study, however, notes that in order to comply with this treaty, the Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change will need to act as the nodal agency for planning, coordinating and initiating environmental programmes and policies in India.
The Green Ministry in this regard will require participation and support from the various Ministries including Coal, Health & Family Welfare, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution amongst others. While the treaty has timelines in place for many of the activities, it will be important and critical to start the planning process without any delay in order to fulfill the global obligation.
