Mercury, to the
Romans, was the messenger of the gods.
Today’s mercury is more prosaic: a
planet, and also a metal, known sometimes as
quicksilver. It was widely used
in thermometers, scientifi
instruments (due to its unique
chemicals properties), as well as
many other products and
processes. The use of mercury,
however, is being reduced
throughout the world due to its
toxicity and the availability of
substitutes. Certain forms of mercury and
its compounds can damage neurological
development and affect
internal organs. Effects are most
pronounced in pregnant
women, infants and children. Mercury
can spread far and
wide through air and water: it is found as
far from industrial centres as the Arctic.
It is ingested by fih and other
marine life, where it becomes
concentrated as it moves up
the food chain.
The world’s
governments agreed at the United Nations
Environment Programme Governing
Council in 2009 to
prepare a legally binding instrument on
mercury to protect human health and the
environment from mercury. The
Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee is
to develop
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a comprehensive
and suitable approach to mercury, including
provisions to reduce the supply of mercury
taking into account the circumstances of
countries. Negotiations are to conclude in
2013.
There is now only one known mercury mine in
the world which
continues to sell its output abroad:
Khaidarkan, in the
remote mountains of southern Kyrgyzstan.
What will
happen to the “kombinat” (the mine, smelter
and all the associated installations are
known together
as “the kombinat”*) is still far from clear.
For the international community, continuing
mercury mining – business
as usual, even if brought up to
international standards
– raises signifiсant concerns. It is
widely recognized in
the international community that limiting
mercury supply
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*Combine
(Комбинат, kombinat) was the Soviet bloc
term for industrial business groups or
conglomerates in the socialist countries.
Examples include VEB Kombinat Robotron, an
electronics manufacturer, and IFA,
a manufacturer of vehicles, both in East
Germany, or the Erdenet copper
combine in Mongolia. (Source: Wikipedia)
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