The summit meeting of environmental ministers but is only now ended, but the result is already seen as safe: Seven years after the start of negotiations to ban mercury had been agreed on the withdrawal, said Federal Environment Minister Sigmar Gabriel (SPD) of the taz in Nairobi. "There will be a real negotiating mandate in order to qualify in two years as a result, as we draw mercury from the market worldwide," said Gabriel, who is fighting with his EU counterparts for years for the ban. The United States had prevented an agreement at all times. Only a U-turn Washington in the deal made it possible: "You can tell how fast the atmosphere has changed."
A working group from the summit now has the task of making the withdrawal decision within two years of a legally binding agreement. About the details of which were already heavily discussed on Thursday. "Everyone agrees that there should be a legally binding regulation," said the spokesman of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), Nick Nuttall. "But there are countries that want to extend the Regulation in perspective to other heavy metals, others want it left with the mercury."
mercury is one of the most toxic substances. Each year 6,000 tonnes of Heavy metal release, one-third of coal power plants. "The amount is increasing, especially in Asia because more and more coal is burned," warns Nuttall. Dating from the combustion of coal mercury into the atmosphere and from there into the human food chain. Most dangerous is the consumption of contaminated fish. In Sweden the pike, and some other fish species from more than 50,000 lakes as so contaminated that the authorities in the birth-age women advise against eating them. "The rest of the population they should not exceed once a week to commit," said UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner. No wonder that every man now living mercury carries. "And the World Health Organization warns that even small amounts are even harmful. "consequences of mercury poisoning include the brain, liver, lung and nerve damage.
place in many developing countries, people today voluntarily surrendered to the heavy metal from. gold miner in Brazil, Zimbabwe, India and Papua New Guinea wash the precious metals using mercury, poisoning not only yourself but entire regions. Nuttall, the number of affected miners and their families is estimated at ten million.
When the mercury ban comes into force must not only gold prospectors to look for alternatives. Many industrial processes rely on mercury. While there are hardly any mercury thermometer are included, most LCD displays from electrical thermometers, the heavy metal. Even energy-saving bulbs contain mercury. "This is about one milligram, which is a tiny amount that fits on the tip of a pen," defended Philips manager Nick Kelso, participating in a technology fair on the UN compound. "If you buy conventional bulbs consume more energy and thus produces far more mercury than is in a fluorescent bulb." But a stand on presenting the Chinese company already Megaman mercury-free energy-saving lamps. "We have replaced the mercury amalgam," said David Fan "The pears are just as bright"
(Copyright with the daily newspaper, 20.2.09)
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