Mercury Update, CanadaNACEC NARAP on Mercury

Mercury NARAP Implmentation Task ForceZacatecas, MexicoSeptember 17 – 18, 2002

Luke Trip, Manager, National Mercury IssuesEnvironment Canada, OttawaRobert Krauel, Manager, Environmental ContaminantsEC Ontario Regional Office

04/22/23

North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation

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The Mercury Cycle

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Mercury Emissions Global Model

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North American Atmospheric Mercury

Atmospheric Mercury Emissions

Mexico21%

Canada5%

USA74%

163 Metric Tonnes

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What is the “North American” problem?

Global levels rising since industrialization Human activities = ½ of environmental load Emissions transformed to toxic organic methyl Hg Natural/human-activity sources bioaccumulate Ecosystem receptors (fish) impact human health Non-traditional impacts not understood Chronic/acute effects on human health

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Why is the Problem Continuing? Science Perspective Transported by local and global air currents

– Foreign sources contribute to North American environment Northern and Eastern regions, net receivers

– Global distillation: vaporization/condensation– Consumption advisories continue to increase– Reproductive/behavioral anomalies in wildlife

Policy Concern Economic growth causes increases in emissions

– power, products, waste Is mercury a commodity or a contaminant ???????

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Women can dramatically reduce their risk of stroke by eating fish regularly, according to a new study.

... a team from Harvard Medical School found that eating fish five times a week cuts the risk of stroke by more than half…The researchers believe that fish protects against stroke because it contains omega-3 fatty acids, nutrients that prevent formation of clots.

Tuna, salmon, sardines, swordfish and mackerel are examples of fish that are particularly rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Yet, recent reports have cast doubt on the safety of fish. Just last week the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned that women of childbearing age and children should stop eating popular types of fish because of the high rates of MERCURYMERCURY they contain.The regulator said shark, kingmackerel, swordfish, and tilefish have enough of the heavy metal to cause brain damage in a fetus.

The Toronto Globe and The Toronto Globe and Mail Mail

Wednesday, January 17, 2001Wednesday, January 17, 2001

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Canadian International Mercury Initiatives

UN Economic Commission for Europe – UNECE Heavy Metals Protocol– Cadmium, Lead and Mercury

Arctic Council– 8 nation circumpolar conference

UNEP Global Mercury Assessment– As of April 2, 2002, information by 64 Governments, 9 intergovernmental, 1 NGO

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Canadian Continental Initiatives Underway

Great Lakes Binational Toxics Strategy Canada, 90% reduction by 2000 in Great Lakes area USA, 50% reduction by 2006 in contiguous USA

New England Governors/Eastern Canadian Premiers emissions & products, influence sources outside region

NA Commission for Environmental Cooperation Mercury Action Plan

NAFTA and NAAEC, Canada, USA & Mexico Phase 2 signed June 2000, emissions & products Implementation Task Force

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Domestic InitiativeCanada-Wide Standards

4 CWS’s presented to Ministers – Fine particulate matter– Ground-level ozone – Benzene (phase 1)– Mercury – Web address www.ccme.ca

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Canada-wide Standards for Mercury

Incineration

Base metal smelters, (Cu, Pb, Zn, Ni)

Lamps (fluorescent) (25 mg to 8 mg)

Dental amalgams (95% by 2005)

Coal-fired electric power generation – (under development)

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Canadian Atmospheric MercuryNPRI Releases 2000

Total = 8t

Pulp & Paper

3%Iron & Steel4%

Incinerators3%

Waste Treatment

10%Lamp Mfg8%

Electric Power

34%

Base Metals33%

Others5%

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Total wet deposition of mercury, 1997 Contribution from various source regions,

USA

52%

16%

16%

16%

China & Japan

Others

North America

Europe

28%

23%

21%

Canada

28%

Japan & China

OthersNorth America

Europe

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Canadian Mercury Control Actions 2002- 2005

Atmospheric Emissions– Uniform Data Collection (UDC) for Electricity Sector– Standard for Electricity Sector– Implement CWS’s

Products– Auto Switches– Clinical Thermometers, hospitals– Batteries– Thermostats– Dental wastes

ResearchWhole ecosystem/human health study (COMERN)Fate of atmospheric mercury (METAALICUS)

Mercury in petroleum crude/products Atmospheric studies

PolicyEncourage ratification of UNECE Heavy Metals ProtocolPromote global reductions through UNEP programParticipate in CEC Mercury NARAPCanada-wide standards for

coal-fired electric power plants cement plants

Canada’s Future Directionfor Mercury Management