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Mercury Update, Canada NACEC NARAP on Mercury

Mercury Update, Canada NACEC NARAP on Mercury. Luke Trip , Manager, National Mercury Issues Environment Canada, Ottawa Robert Krauel , Manager, Environmental Contaminants EC Ontario Regional Office. Mercury NARAP Implmentation Task Force Zacatecas, Mexico September 17 – 18, 2002.

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Mercury Update, Canada NACEC NARAP on Mercury

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  1. Mercury Update, CanadaNACEC NARAP on Mercury Luke Trip, Manager, National Mercury Issues Environment Canada, Ottawa Robert Krauel, Manager, Environmental Contaminants EC Ontario Regional Office Mercury NARAP Implmentation Task Force Zacatecas, Mexico September 17 – 18, 2002

  2. North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation

  3. The Mercury Cycle

  4. Mercury Emissions Global Model

  5. North American Atmospheric Mercury 163 Metric Tonnes

  6. 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

  7. 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 ???????

  8. The Toronto Globe and Mail Wednesday, January 17, 2001 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 thatwomen of childbearing age and children should stop eating popular types of fish because of the high rates of MERCURY they contain. The regulator said shark, king mackerel, swordfish, and tilefish have enough of the heavy metal to cause brain damage in a fetus. Women can dramaticallyreduce their risk of stroke by eating fishregularly, according to a new study. ... a team from Harvard Medical School found thateating 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.

  9. 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

  10. Canadian ContinentalInitiatives 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

  11. 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

  12. 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)

  13. Canadian Atmospheric Mercury NPRI Releases 2000 Total = 8t

  14. Canada Others North America 21% 28% Japan & China 23% Europe 28% Total wet deposition of mercury, 1997 Contribution from various source regions,

  15. 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

  16. Canada’s Future Direction for Mercury Management ResearchWhole ecosystem/human health study (COMERN) Fate of atmospheric mercury (METAALICUS) Mercury in petroleum crude/products Atmospheric studiesPolicy Encourage ratification of UNECE Heavy Metals Protocol Promote global reductions through UNEP program Participate in CEC Mercury NARAP Canada-wide standards for coal-fired electric power plants cement plants

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