The Minamata Convention controls the whole life cycle of mercury. Controlling the anthropogenic emissions and releases of mercury throughout its life cycle has been a key factor in shaping the obligations under the Convention, which include:
· A ban on new mercury mines and the phaseout 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 and on releases to land and water, and
· The regulation of the informal sector of artisanal and small-scale gold mining.
The Convention also addresses interim storage of mercury and its disposal once it becomes waste, sites contaminated by mercury as well as health issues.
In the Minamata Convention, supply refers to mercury production and distribution, while trade covers its global exchange, including both import and export of this toxic substance. Learn more with the Convention articles highlighted below.
A - Cinnabar ore mining to produce mercury
B - Mercury being supplied from primary mining
C - Mercury being internationally traded
The text of the Convention limits the use of mercury and its emissions to air and releases to land and water, from manufacturing processes to mercury-added products and the gold mining sector. Learn more with the articles highlighted below.
D - Mercury being used used in various industries such as chlorine and caustic soda
E - Mercury being emitted to air from coal burning and other industries
F - Fluorescent lamps
G - Skin-lightening products
H- Thermometers
I - Dental amalgam
J - Mercury being used to extract gold in gold mining
K - Mercury being vaporized through burning to obtain gold
L - Mercury being released into land and water
The Minamata Convention also establishes regulations and guidelines that ensure safe storage practices and waste management methods to prevent mercury pollution. Learn more with the articles highlighted below.
M - Interim storage
N - Mercury being emitted and released from waste management
O - Mercury accumulating in fish from micro-organisms
P - Humans being exposed to mercury through food consumption
