UPDATE
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Consultative meet on the run up to INC – II on mercury
Source: Toxics Link, Date: , 2011
Mercury and its usage have always been under the scanner
from a health perspective. Its presence in the industrial unit is even more
dubious with a recent finding of the substance in thermal power plants. To
bring out further understanding on the presence of mercury, Toxics Link
participated in the consultative meeting organised (reg. INC - II) held at 439,
Parayavaran Bhavan on 06 December 2010. The aim was to subsequently develop the
road map for mercury management and phase-out. The aim was to subsequently
develop a road map for mercury management and its phase-out.
Below are some observations made:
- There is
a need for developing a clear roadmap for dealing with the issue of
pr4esence of mercury in thermal power plants. There are technical/
financial issues, which should be put across at the time of international
negotiations to safeguard the interests of all stakeholders. It is
understood that this will take some time. However, internally it is needed
to commit to ourselves and see how quickly one phases-out mercury from the
industrial sector. And this needs to be understood clearly by all the
stakeholders, especially the decision makers.
- The
quality of coal varies in India. Though the sulphur content (as was
suggested in the meeting) in Indian coal is less, the ash content of
Indian coal is quite high as compared to coals in China or US (3 to 6
times - Toxics Link research findings). Even the Kcal/kg value is about
half in the same comparison. This means that coal consumption would
continue to increase for our energy requirements vis-à-vis more mercury
emissions— which need to be controlled – especially when reviewed from
health perspective.
a. Opportunity - Coal based power generation would
dominate even 20-30 years from now (until tech breakthrough). However, it is
found that there is an opportunity here for us to develop technology to
arresting mercury emission.
For information – India imports mercury from EU
(55%), US (10%) and 35% from countries like Spain, Algiers, Khyrgystan, Russia
and China that have major mercury mines.
Indian coal has about 0.11 to 0.80 microgram of mercury per
gram of coal. Depending upon the quantum and type of coal in our thermal Power
Plants, India is emitting 60 tones of mercury every year (Toxics Link research
findings).
Information on uses – India consumes roughly 25
tones of mercury in Chlor-alkali plants, 20 tones as elemental in mercury-based
instruments, and about 45-50 tones in electrical equipment (will further
increase). However, there is no data on mercury use in pesticide and other
formulations.
- Free
trade of mercury is quite prevalent in India, where the metal is sold/
used openly in quite unabated and unhealthy manner. This should be
regulated through trade regulations and inventory gaps.
- Indian
consumption of mercury for electrical appliances may be lower as compared
to other countries (as suggested in Holland) but due to the lack of life
cycle approach, this mercury is surely becoming part of our immediate
environment and landfills.
- While it
is good to see that MoEF/CPCB thinks of regulating the mercury use in CFL
to 5mg per tube, it should be seen that this is a progressive policy to
pressurize manufacturers for constant upgrading (3mg or less).
- Since
alternate technology (such as digital thermometers and sphygmomanometer)
have proved to be success in the healthcare sector, there is a need to
emulate the same in the whole country, since roughly 25 tones of mercury
consumption/ emission can be phased out immediately if this alternate
measures are adopted in the healthcare sector. Looking at it from a
cost-effective perspective is the only bit, which needs to be careful
worked out.
- Opportunity
– There is a need to develop and implement with clarity the storage and
disposal mechanisms.
- Way
forward
a. Internationally,
there is a need to negotiate for phase-out but setting strict internal
standards and roadmap is necessary b. Funds and
resources need to be mobilized with a possibility of systems for technology
transfer
c. Inventory
and Impact mapping should be emphasised
d. Mercury
trade and its uses should be regulated
e. There should
be stricter anti dumping laws and enforcement
f. The roadmap
for alternatives should be prepared
g. Emission
reduction and exposures should be looked at through best practices
h. Storage of
surplus mercury – should be seen as opportunity in this region
i. Coal based
Thermal Power Plants – should be seen as an opportunity for technology
development and transfer
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