Make mercury history
Mercury, to the Romans, was the messenger of the gods. a comprehensive and suitable approach to mercury, in-
Today’s mercury is more prosaic: a planet, and also a met- cluding provisions to reduce the supply of mercury tak-
al, known sometimes as quicksilver. It was widely used ing into account the circumstances of countries. Nego-
in thermometers, scientific instruments (due to its unique tiations are to conclude in 2013.
chemicals properties), as well as many other products and
processes. The use of mercury, however, is being reduced There is now only one known mercury mine in the world
throughout the world due to its toxicity and the availabil- which continues to sell its output abroad: Khaidarkan, in
ity of substitutes. Certain forms of mercury and its com- the remote mountains of southern Kyrgyzstan.
pounds can damage neurological development and affect
internal organs. Effects are most pronounced in pregnant What will happen to the “kombinat” (the mine, smelter
women, infants and children. Mercury can spread far and and all the associated installations are known together
wide through air and water: it is found as far from indus- as “the kombinat”*) is still far from clear. For the interna-
trial centres as the Arctic. It is ingested by fish and other tional community, continuing mercury mining – business
marine life, where it becomes concentrated as it moves up as usual, even if brought up to international standards
the food chain. – raises significant concerns. It is widely recognized in
the international community that limiting mercury supply
The world’s governments agreed at the United Nations
Environment Programme Governing Council in 2009 to *Combine (Комбинат, kombinat) was the Soviet bloc term for industrial
prepare a legally binding instrument on mercury to pro-
business groups or conglomerates in the socialist countries. Examples
include VEB Kombinat Robotron, an electronics manufacturer, and IFA,
tect human health and the environment from mercury. The
a manufacturer of vehicles, both in East Germany, or the Erdenet copper
Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee is to develop combine in Mongolia. (Source: Wikipedia)
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