![\"\"](\"https://lets-talk-bromine.bsef.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Minamata-Convention-on-mercury-bsef-bromine-10.jpg\")
Minamata was a peaceful town on the Japanese island of Kyushu, mainly known for its beautiful Minamata Bay. But in the early 1950s, the harmony in the fishing town was disturbed when the cats started to behave strangely; dancing around, screeching, scratching\u00a0–\u00a0it was the beginning of a human and ecological tragedy.
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Today, the danger of mercury pollution is globally known. This wasn\u2019t the case when between 1932 and 1968 the local chemical factory Chisso Corporation started to release methylmercury\u00a0into the industrial\u00a0wastewater.\u00a0It took a while before the effects of this industrial wastewater showed. The cats were the first to feel the effects of mercury poisoning.\u00a0Then residents started suffering from splitting headaches, tunnel vision, and eventually severe deformities.
\nMercury in the industrial waste water discharged into public water was being concentrated in fish and shellfish through bioaccumulation. Those who ate substantial quantities of the contaminated fish and shellfish were poisoned. This was called Minamata Disease.\u00a0The in 1956 officially discovered mercury pollution resulted in more than 2000 people dying from eating contaminated seafood, and thousands more suffering life-long damage and disabilities.
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Mercury – a naturally occurring and ubiquitous metal \u2013 is widely\u00a0used in everyday objects such as thermometers. It moves with air and water, transcends borders and can be transported thousands of miles in the atmosphere. Human activities such as coal burning further exacerbate the natural sources of mercury emissions. Due to these widespread anthropogenic releases, it is a problem that requires\u00a0global action. That is why in 2013, after three years of negotiations, delegates from over 140 countries adopted the Minamata Convention of Mercury.
\nWhat is the goal of this United Nations Treaty? Protecting human health and the environment from the adverse effects of mercury and its compounds. Since the Convention achieved the needed 50 ratifications (51 to be precise), it has entered into force in August 2017. The first Conference of the Parties to the Convention takes place from 24 to 29 September 2017 in Geneva, Switzerland.
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Major highlights of the Minamata Convention\u00a0include a ban on new mercury mines, the phase out of existing ones, the phase out and phase down of mercury use in a number of products and processes, control measures on emissions to air\u00a0and on releases to land and water, and the regulation of the informal sector\u00a0of artisanal and small-scale gold mining. The Convention addresses interim storage of mercury and its disposal once it becomes waste, and sites contaminated by mercury. There is also a focus on neurological and other health effects, particularly on unborn children and infants. By implementing\u00a0these measures, an overall reduction in mercury levels in the environment should be reached over time.
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BSEF\u00a0shares the concern about mercury and its persistence in the environment. Once anthropogenically released, it has an\u00a0ability to bio-accumulate in ecosystems and create\u00a0significant negative effects on human health and the environment.
\nThat is why we support the Minamata Convention on Mercury, and why we will be present at the Convention in Geneva.
\nAre you attending the Convention as well? Feel free to contact us, and hopefully we can meet and share our insights on mercury pollution and on the use of bromine in this global issue.
\nDo you want to know more about mercury pollution? Discover the role bromine plays in the reduction of mercury emissions (link to article 2), and thus in the implementation of the international Minamata Convention on Mercury.
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What are your thoughts on the program and the goals of the Minamata Convention?
\nDo not hesitate to share this article, to give your opinion and to start the conversation. Because the broader this environmental issue is addressed and talked about, the bigger the awareness on mercury pollution.
\nAnd at BSEF, we think awareness is the first step towards change.
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\nSOURCES
\nMinamata Convention on Mercury
\nFirst meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention on Mercury (COP1)
\nThe Japanese town that was poisoned – BBC
\nThe post The Minamata Convention on Mercury appeared first on Let's talk bromine.
\n", "content_text": "A GLOBAL TREATY MAKING MERCURY HISTORY\nMinamata was a peaceful town on the Japanese island of Kyushu, mainly known for its beautiful Minamata Bay. But in the early 1950s, the harmony in the fishing town was disturbed when the cats started to behave strangely; dancing around, screeching, scratching\u00a0–\u00a0it was the beginning of a human and ecological tragedy.\n \nThe drastic effects of mercury pollution in Minamata\nToday, the danger of mercury pollution is globally known. This wasn\u2019t the case when between 1932 and 1968 the local chemical factory Chisso Corporation started to release methylmercury\u00a0into the industrial\u00a0wastewater.\u00a0It took a while before the effects of this industrial wastewater showed. The cats were the first to feel the effects of mercury poisoning.\u00a0Then residents started suffering from splitting headaches, tunnel vision, and eventually severe deformities.\nMercury in the industrial waste water discharged into public water was being concentrated in fish and shellfish through bioaccumulation. Those who ate substantial quantities of the contaminated fish and shellfish were poisoned. This was called Minamata Disease.\u00a0The in 1956 officially discovered mercury pollution resulted in more than 2000 people dying from eating contaminated seafood, and thousands more suffering life-long damage and disabilities.\n\n \n \nThe Minamata Convention, protecting health and environment from mercury\nMercury – a naturally occurring and ubiquitous metal \u2013 is widely\u00a0used in everyday objects such as thermometers. It moves with air and water, transcends borders and can be transported thousands of miles in the atmosphere. Human activities such as coal burning further exacerbate the natural sources of mercury emissions. Due to these widespread anthropogenic releases, it is a problem that requires\u00a0global action. That is why in 2013, after three years of negotiations, delegates from over 140 countries adopted the Minamata Convention of Mercury.\nWhat is the goal of this United Nations Treaty? Protecting human health and the environment from the adverse effects of mercury and its compounds. Since the Convention achieved the needed 50 ratifications (51 to be precise), it has entered into force in August 2017. The first Conference of the Parties to the Convention takes place from 24 to 29 September 2017 in Geneva, Switzerland.\n\n \nMeasures to make mercury history\nMajor highlights of the Minamata Convention\u00a0include a ban on new mercury mines, the phase out of existing ones, the phase out and phase down of mercury use in a number of products and processes, control measures on emissions to air\u00a0and on releases to land and water, and the regulation of the informal sector\u00a0of artisanal and small-scale gold mining. The Convention addresses interim storage of mercury and its disposal once it becomes waste, and sites contaminated by mercury. There is also a focus on neurological and other health effects, particularly on unborn children and infants. By implementing\u00a0these measures, an overall reduction in mercury levels in the environment should be reached over time.\n \nBSEF and the role of bromine on the Minamata Convention on Mercury\nBSEF\u00a0shares the concern about mercury and its persistence in the environment. Once anthropogenically released, it has an\u00a0ability to bio-accumulate in ecosystems and create\u00a0significant negative effects on human health and the environment.\nThat is why we support the Minamata Convention on Mercury, and why we will be present at the Convention in Geneva.\nAre you attending the Convention as well? Feel free to contact us, and hopefully we can meet and share our insights on mercury pollution and on the use of bromine in this global issue.\nDo you want to know more about mercury pollution? Discover the role bromine plays in the reduction of mercury emissions (link to article 2), and thus in the implementation of the international Minamata Convention on Mercury.\n \n \nWhat are your thoughts on the program and the goals of the Minamata Convention?\nDo not hesitate to share this article, to give your opinion and to start the conversation. Because the broader this environmental issue is addressed and talked about, the bigger the awareness on mercury pollution. \nAnd at BSEF, we think awareness is the first step towards change.\n\u00a0\n\u00a0\nSOURCES\nMinamata Convention on Mercury\nFirst meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention on Mercury (COP1)\nThe Japanese town that was poisoned – BBC\nThe post The Minamata Convention on Mercury appeared first on Let's talk bromine.", "date_published": "2017-09-07T08:17:37+00:00", "date_modified": "2017-09-07T14:59:10+00:00", "author": { "name": "admin", "url": "https://lets-talk-bromine.bsef.com/author/admin/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/0428b8e4964fa7634cc8733194ee5bbe?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "https://lets-talk-bromine.bsef.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Minamata-Convention-on-mercury-bsef-bromine-pollutionkopie.jpg", "tags": [ "bromine", "bsef", "convention on mercury", "mercury pollution", "minamata", "Mercury emission reduction" ] } ] }