MERCURY IS a highly toxic chemical. It is known from very ancient times. In ancient time it was used for purposes like heal fractures, maintaining good health, in ointments, cosmetics, preserving food, and silvering mirrors.
Yet mercury continues to be used in many products and processes all over the world. These include uses; in small scale gold mining, manometers and thermometers, electrical switches, fluorescent lamps, dental amalgams, batteries, seed dressing and some pharmaceuticals.
Important emission sources of mercury include coal fired power generation, waste incineration, cement, steel, gold and other metals mining, cremation and other sources such as secondary smelting operations. Today it is present in various media and food, especially fish, all over the globe at levels that adversely effect human being and wild life.
Acute exposure to mercury or mercury vapours result in different kinds of health hazardous impacts. Effects such are tremors, impaired cognitive skills, sleep disturbance, chest pain, dyspnea, cough, hemoptysis, nerves system affects including psychotic reactions are all the adverse impacts of mercury on human health.
Realizing, the hazardous impacts of mercury Ministry of Environment, Government of Pakistan with collaboration of UNEP chemical Branch start key consideration over this issue. First time in 2007 this Ministry took initiative on this issue and approved financial support for Pakistan. A foreign funded Mercury Inventory Pilot Project was launched in 2008. .Objectives of this project were to create awareness in general public about mercury toxicity, attempts for replacement of mercury containing commodities and develop strategies to reduce the risk of mercury exposure. In 2008 UNEP chemical expert paid a visit to Pakistan to impart training to the inventory team from the Ministry of Environment.
For the first time in the history of Pakistan, a preliminary report on this sensitive issue regarding use and release of mercury in the country has been developed. According to that report, maximum and minimum emission of mercury in Pakistan is approximately 36898 kg per year and 10842 kg per year respectively. It is also revealed that major uses of mercury in Pakistan are in the production of Chlor alkali plants, followed by lighting source, dental amalgams.On the basis of that preliminary report and data gathered, Ministry of Environment with the support of UNEP, (Chemicals Branch), started second phase of this Pilot Project titled Management of Mercury and mercury containing Waste in Pakistan. On 1st December, 2008, MoU was signed between International Cooperation Wing, Ministry of Environment and UNEP Chemicals Branch. In this project, an inception workshop of all national stakeholders was conducted on 30th July, 2009 at Avari Hotel Lahore.
Further, hair samples from the exposed people of Chlor alkali and dental amalgam sectors in Pakistan were collected and sent to University of Aberdeen, Scotland, UK for mercury analysis. The main objective is to develop Environmentally Sound Management (ESM) plan in the priority sectors of mercury waste in Pakistan. Still, this project is in progress and the expected dead line is 30th June 2010.
http://www.technologytimes.pk/mag/2011/jan11/supply/status_of_mercury_in_pakistan.php
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