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

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? 4 Science Perspective n Transported by local and global air currents – Foreign sources contribute to North American environment n Northern and Eastern regions, net receivers – Global distillation: vaporization/condensation – Consumption advisories continue to increase – Reproductive/behavioral anomalies in wildlife 4 Policy Concern n Economic growth causes increases in emissions – power, products, waste n Is mercury a commodity or a contaminant ???????

8 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. MERCURY 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 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. The Toronto Globe and Mail Wednesday, January 17, 2001

9 Canadian International Mercury Initiatives nUN Economic Commission for Europe –UNECE Heavy Metals Protocol –Cadmium, Lead and Mercury nArctic Council –8 nation circumpolar conference nUNEP Global Mercury Assessment –As of April 2, 2002, information by 64 Governments, 9 intergovernmental, 1 NGO

10 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

11 Domestic Initiative Canada-Wide Standards n 4 CWS’s presented to Ministers – Fine particulate matter – Ground-level ozone – Benzene (phase 1) – Mercury – Web address

12 Canada-wide Standards for Mercury n Incineration n Base metal smelters, (Cu, Pb, Zn, Ni) n Lamps (fluorescent) (25 mg to 8 mg) n Dental amalgams (95% by 2005) n Coal-fired electric power generation – (under development)

13 Canadian Atmospheric Mercury NPRI Releases 2000 Total = 8t

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

15 Canadian Mercury Control Actions n Atmospheric Emissions – Uniform Data Collection (UDC) for Electricity Sector – Standard for Electricity Sector – Implement CWS’s n Products – Auto Switches – Clinical Thermometers, hospitals – Batteries – Thermostats – Dental wastes

Research Whole ecosystem/human health study (COMERN) Fate of atmospheric mercury (METAALICUS) Mercury in petroleum crude/products Atmospheric studies Policy 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 Canada’s Future Direction for Mercury Management