19 September 2018: The European Energy Agency (EEA) released a report titled, ‘Mercury in Europe’s environment: A priority for European and global action,’ highlighting challenges regarding global mercury emissions resulting from unsustainable energy practices, gold mining, and improper product disposal. It calls on the global community to prioritize concrete action on mercury.
The report reviews European and global action on mercury in the context of continuing challenges such as environmental behavior, impacts of mercury production and use, and emissions trends. It aims to increase understanding for policy makers to encourage responsive action in concrete policy.
In the EU, 11,100 surface water bodies do not meet mercury standards.
The document informs that mercury pollution in rivers, oceans, and lakes is among the the biggest risks. Once introduced into these water bodies, mercury accumulates in the food chain affecting human diets trough the consumption of larger predatory fish that consume smaller mercury-ridden fish. Consumption of excess mercury can lead to extreme physical and health defects including “Minamata disease,” a neurological syndrome first recognized in 1956. Monitoring shows 11,100 surface water bodies in the European Union (EU) are not meeting more protective mercury levels.
The study shows that while small-scale gold mining and industrial processes are increasing the current mercury emissions in Europe, the majority of global emissions are airborne with 80% of mercury deposits in the EU originating from other countries. Global atmospheric levels of mercury are up to 500% above natural levels while levels of mercury in the ocean are 200% above natural levels. As the most important emissions sources, the report notes coal-fired power plants and plastic and cement production. Switching to cleaner and more sustainable energy sources, such as hydrogen, could reduce mercury emissions and improve global health.
The study further explains that reducing mercury levels in the environment will take a long time before reaching pre-industrial levels. In addition to enhanced action under international and regional legally-binding instruments to reduce mercury emissions, such as the Minamata Convention on Mercury and EU and US mercury export bans, consumers can also take action, for example, by assuring proper disposal of mercury-containing products such as light bulbs and batteries. [EEA Press Release] [Publication: Mercury in Europe’s Environment: A Priority for European and Global Action] [European Commission: Mercury] [Minamata Convention on Mercury] [Surface Water Bodies]