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IPEN

A Toxics-Free Future

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Contaminated Sites

Contaminated Sites

Established and strengthened health professional, community and NGOs capacities for prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring of health risks related to mercury exposure from selected ASGM hotspots of Indonesia and the Philippines

This comprehensive project by NGO Balifokus (Indonesia) documents a field-based investigation by Balifokus personnel and medical experts into the health impacts of mercury exposure on ASGM miners, their families and communities in selected communities of Indonesia. The project report documents the involvement of over 1 million Indonesians in the practice of artisanal small scale gold mining (ASGM) and reveals the growing activity of primary mercury mining that is emerging in parts of Indonesia.

Mercury Hot Spots and Mercury Waste in Nizegorodsky District, Russia

This projects bythe Russian environmental NGO ‘SPES,’ in collaboration with IPEN EECCA Hub ‘Eco-Accord’ and another Russia NGO ‘DRONT’ (see separate IMEAP report for parallel activities undertaken by DRONT on mercury from used fluorescent lamps), focuses on investigation of and awareness-raising about the mercury pollution sources in the Nizegorodsky district of Russia and on starting a broad outreach campaign on mercury pollution sources and mercury health risks thro

Impact of heavy metals from Balkan power plants on inhabitants and the environment

This project by Arnika Association, entitled 'Impact of heavy metals from Balkan power plants on inhabitants and the environment', focuses on the presentation and discussion of data related to contamination by heavy metals at selected locations in the Balkans. Sampling teams conducted monitoring in the field to obtain data about the impacts of coal fired power plants from emissions and releases (including ash ponds and dumps). The sampled sites were located in Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Serbia.

Mercury Hot Spot in Krasnodar Region, Russia

This project conducted by Volgograd-Ecopress investigated mercury contamination hotspots emanating from the historical Sakhalin primary mercury mining site and impacting on surrounding water bodies and towns. Mercury intoxication of civilian workers led to prisoners working the mine until the underground and open cast operations ceased in the mid 1990’s. Since then a large scale secondary mercury recovery operation has occupied the former mine site extracting commercial grade mercury from up to 10,000 tonnes of waste a year.

Serbian Response to Global Mercury Treaty

This project report by Serbian NGO ALHem provides data and research into critical mercury pollution issues in Serbia as well as key policy and legislative framework gaps that must be addressed to move towards ratification of the Mercury Treaty. The report includes revelations about mercury contamination resulting from the NATO bombing of a mercury cell chlor-alkali plant in 1999 and the urgent need for remediation of the hotspot and environmental monitoring.

Situación Nacional del mercurio en Argentina y Cinco Saltos: un sitio contaminado con mercurio

This project by Taller Ecologista focuses on the main sources of environmental release of mercury in Argentina based on documented sources and interviews with officials. The report focuses on a mercury contaminated site caused by releases from a chlor-alkali industry facility. This site is near the city of Cinco Saltos, Rio Negro Province, where interviews with former workers and authorities were conducted. Similarly, interviews were held with various officials in different ministries to accelerate the process of ratification of the Minamata Convention on Mercury.

Inventory and mapping of mercury use in Artisanal Small Scale Gold Mining (ASGM) sites in Migori, South Western Kenya

The Centre for Environment Justice and Development (CEJAD) conducted a detailed investigation of the extent of mercury use in artisanal small scale gold mining (ASGM) sites in Mikei, Masara and Osiri in Kenya. As part of the investigation, CEJAD conducted a range of interviews and awareness-raising activities with gold miners, their associations and local authorities, related to the hazards of mercury use and alternative, mercury-free gold processing techniques.

Public Participation in Conducting Independent Monitoring

This project by NGO Independent Ecological Expertise examines the extensive mercury contamination resulting from decades of operation of the Khaidarkan mercury mine, virtually the last primary mercury mine in the world still producing and exporting elemental mercury. Under difficult conditions and considerable resistance from mine management, IEE has undertaken an independent environmental mercury monitoring study, utilising public participation, to add to the available knowledge of mercury contamination around this industrial hot spot.

Mercury Country Situation Report by Armenian Civil Society Sector

Armenian based NGO Armenian Women for Health and Healthy Environment (AWHHE) undertook a project to produce a Mercury Country Status Report for Armenia. Their investigation into mercury pollution has contributed important information to the national efforts to develop an inventory of mercury pollution sources and contaminated sites which they have been able to share with key stakeholders and the public.

National Public Awareness Activities in Kazakhstan

“Greenwomen” Analytical Environmental Agency conducted a comprehensive awareness raising project on mercury pollution in Kazakhstan. Certain areas of Kazakhstan, such as the River Nura, the city of Temirtau and the Pavlodar chemical complex are heavily impacted by mercury contamination. As part of this activity numerous methods were employed to spread the message about mercury pollution among stakeholders including the public, NGOs, media and government.