Mercury Environment Poisoning, Minamata Convention on Mercury

Exposure to mercury even in small amounts may cause serious health problems as in the case of Minamata disease.

Mercury Poisoning Happens Every Day In Africa

Explore and Understand Africa Through Her Food and Culture

10-19-2017

Mercury is a chemical element with symbol Hg and atomic number 80. Mercury is one of the top ten chemicals of major public health concern.

What is the Minamata Convention on Mercury?

Minamata disease is a debilitating neurological syndrome caused by severe mercury poisoning. The serious health and environmental effects resulting from the mercury pollution, and the need to ensure proper management of mercury gave birth to the Minamata Convention on Mercury. 

The objective of the Minamata Convention on Mercury is to protect the human health and the environment and releases of mercury and mercury compounds into the ground, air and water environment.

Minamata Convention on Mercury addresses the health concerns, especially in developing countries, resulting from exposure to mercury of vulnerable populations, especially women, children, and, through them, future generations and contamination of the environment for decades.

Artisanal and small-scale gold mining

Mercury occurs naturally in the earth's crust and is released into the environment from volcanic activity, weathering of rocks and human activity. Human activity is the main cause of mercury releases as a result of mining for mercury, gold and other metals and many other factors.

Artisanal and Small-scale mining (ASM) refers to unlawful mining in Africa and other countries by miners using low technology or minimal mining machinery usually under dangerous conditions. The Minamata Convention on Mercury action plan on Artisanal and small-scale gold mining is to eliminate:

1.     Whole ore amalgamation

2.     Open burning of amalgam or processed amalgam

3.     Burning of amalgam in residential areas

4.     Cyanide leaching in sediment, ore or tailings to which mercury has been added without first removing the mercury

In addition to facilitating the formalization or regulation of the artisanal and small-scale gold mining sector, keeping statistics on the quantities of mercury used and the practices employed in artisanal and small-scale gold mining and processing within its territory, creating a public health policy on the exposure of artisanal and small-scale gold miners and their communities to mercury.

Since ASM's are unlicensed, they are not regulated and health and safety issues, pollution to the environment, and child labor are chief concerns. Accidents and injuries from mining in unsafe tunnels, unprotected open pits and use of explosives lead to severe and fatal accidents. Chemical exposure and limited access to safety equipment are a day-to-day risk for poor miners.

Mining Africa's Health

Minamata Convention on Mercury was held in Kumamoto, Japan on October 10, 2013 and on August 16, 2017, entered into force. The following African Countries have signed the Minamata Convention on Mercury:

Mining Africa's Health The Minamata Convention on Mercury
African Country	Signature Date
Algeria	No data
Angola	11 Oct 2013
Benin	10 Oct 2013
Botswana	No data
Burkina Faso	10 Oct 2013
Burundi	14 Feb 2014
Cameroon	24 Sep 2014
Central African Republic	10 Oct 2013
Chad	25 Sep 2014
Congo	8 Oct 2014
Côte d'Ivoire	10 Oct 2013
Democratic Republic of the Congo	No data
Djibouti	10 Oct 2013
Egypt	No data
Equatorial Guinea	No data
Eritrea	No data
Ethiopia	10 Oct 2013
Gabon	30 Jun 2014
Gambia	10 Oct 2013
Ghana	24 Sep 2014
Guinea	25 Nov 2013
Guinea-Bissau	24 Sep 2014
Kenya	10 Oct 2013
Lesotho	No data
Liberia	24 Sep 2014
Libya	10 Oct 2013
Madagascar	10 Oct 2013
Malawi	10 Oct 2013
Mali	10 Oct 2013
Mauritania	11 Oct 2013
Mauritius	10 Oct 2013
Morocco	6 Jun 2014
Mozambique	10 Oct 2013
Namibia	No data
Niger	10 Oct 2013
Nigeria	10 Oct 2013
Republic of Cabo Verde	No data
Rwanda	No data
Sao Tome and Principe	No data
Senegal	11 Oct 2013
Seychelles	27 May 2014
Sierra Leone	12 Aug 2014
Somalia	No data
South Africa	10 Oct 2013
South Sudan	No data
Sudan	24 Sep 2014
Swaziland	No data
Togo	10 Oct 2013
Tunisia	10 Oct 2013
Uganda	10 Oct 2013
United Republic of Tanzania	10 Oct 2013
Zambia	10 Oct 2013
Zimbabwe	11 Oct 2013

Did you know?
Mercury is contained in many products, including batteries, thermometers and barometers, electric switches and relays in equipment Lamps including some types of light bulbs, dental amalgam for dental fillings, skin-lightening products and other cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.