NATIONAL WORKSHOP EMPHASIZES MERCURY MANAGEMENT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 NEW DELHI 004678

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR OES/PCI, OES/ENV, AND SCA/INS
STATE FOR STAS
DOE FOR INTERNATIONAL
HHS FOR OGHA STEIGER, HICKEY AND VALDEZ
NIH FOR GLASS AND MAMPILLY
FDA FOR LUMPKIN AND WELSCH
CDC FOR BLOUNT AND FARRELL
INTERIOR FOR FWS RILEY
STATE PASS TO NSF FOR INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV TSPL TBIO ECON SOCI KSCA IN
SUBJECT: NATIONAL WORKSHOP EMPHASIZES MERCURY MANAGEMENT


NEW DELHI 00004678 001.2 OF 003



1. (U) Summary: ESTHOffs attended a national workshop focused on
"Mercury Usage, Processes, and Impacts in India," hosted by Indian
NGO Toxics Link on 27-29 September. India is one of the world's
biggest consumers of mercury (Hg) and both private sector and
government representatives in attendance emphasized the need for
improved mercury management, from import through disposal. The
Government of India (GOI) announced plans to form a Task Force on Hg
management and discussed international regulations, while Government
of Delhi officials discussed current and proposed initiatives to
improve practices and raise awareness about the dangers of Hg.
Representatives from the chlor-alkali, medical/dental, lighting, and
wastewater treatment sectors provided an overview of key initiatives
and challenges associated with reducing Hg dependency. An initial
study of fish in West Bengal suggests that mercury contamination is
above the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's maximum allowable
intake threshold in more than one-third of the commonly consumed
species tested. End summary.

GOI ANNOUNCES NEW COMMITTEE TO STUDY MERCURY USAGE
-------------- --------------


2. (SBU) Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) Joint
Secretary, Mr. R.K. Vaish, announced the formation of a "mercury

SIPDIS
management" Task Force (TF) limited in purview to key Hg-intensive
sectors. Initially, the TF will focus on increasing the use of
compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs),establish standards for
their maximum allowable mercury content, and possibly address CFL
recycling concerns. Dr. G.K. Pandey of the MoEF explained the TF
will not address mercury emissions from coal-fired thermal power
plants explaining such emissions were a secondary concern to be
addressed by the GOI in the unspecified future.

INTERNATIONAL REGULATION DISCUSSED
--------------


3. (SBU) A representative from the NGO Health Care Without Harm
lamented that, "India and the United States are two of the countries
that have been most resistant" to international regulation of the
mercury trade. Dr. Pandey responded that the issue would have to be
addressed by the new Task Force, but remained non-committal and
exhibited minimal interest in the discussion. Representatives from
the European Union presented data regarding their Hg regulatory
scheme which was met with interest from Indian industry
representatives. Currently, India does not regulate the handling or
sale of mercury, but does have regulations for domestic disposal.


4. (SBU) COMMENT: Infrastructure remains inadequate for
enforcement of Hg disposal regulations. Restricting the import of
mercury into India could have unintended negative consequences if
effective waste management and recycling programs are not
established in parallel. If the price of mercury rises due to a
decrease in net availability, trash-pickers would have a greater
incentive to collect mercury from medical and other waste products
for resale on the black market. This could lead to increased
exposure to the neurotoxin among this vulnerable population, often
comprised of destitute Indian children.

GOVERNMENT OF DELHI MERCURY INITIATIVES
--------------


5. (U) Government of Delhi (GoD) representatives emphasized the
need to increase public awareness about the dangers of mercury and
to develop a strategy to reduce usage. Mercury has historically
been thought to hold mystical healing properties; misinformation and
lack of awareness remain serious healthcare challenges. GoD has
been producing films for schools to raise awareness and would like
to expand the campaign to educate healthcare practitioners.

NEW DELHI 00004678 002.2 OF 003


Additionally, GoD expressed interest in working with the World
Health Organization to assess mercury usage and healthcare waste
management programs. Officials also called for a "best practices"
manual, to provide guidelines for a comprehensive handling and
disposal strategy. GoD representatives were also interested in
purchasing Hg-free medical equipment and in discussing Hg
trafficking and trade issues. COMMENT: Despite the fact several
"best practices" manuals are available and in use in India,
coordination of best practices and information sharing remains a
significant challenge.

REDUCING MERCURY USAGE IN KEY SECTORS
--------------


6. (U) CHLOR-ALKALI INDUSTRY: Chlor-alkali production in India is
approximately fifty times more mercury-intensive than the global
average and is responsible for greater net mercury emissions than
the combined release from all of India's coal-fired power plants,
according to data provided at the workshop. This highly
mercury-intensive industry produces hydrogen, chlorine and sodium
hydroxide as end products, and is now taking voluntary action to
phase-out Hg use in its production processes with a domestic goal of
completely eliminating industrial Hg use by 2012. All but nine
chlor-alkali facilities, which account for approximately 12% of
India's overall production, have converted to a newer, more
efficient Hg-free membrane cell process. Significant challenges
remain to implementing sustainable mercury management, including
accurate assessment and full disclosure of industrial mercury usage
and disposal practices. The mercury recovered from decommissioned
chlor-alkali plants is often resold into the market, depressing
prices and increasing availability for other uses.


7. (SBU) MEDICAL SECTOR: Representatives from the medical field
described significant challenges, frustrating experiences, and
disincentives discouraging medical facilities in India from
obtaining Hg-free equipment and reducing their Hg footprint.
Certified, mercury-free thermometers and blood pressure monitors are
not readily available in India. Breakage of these devices coupled
with inadequate disposal techniques represents a major source of
exposure. According to the experience of one hospital
administrator, import of Hg-free devices is subject to a 36.73%
import tariff, as opposed to the standard 9%, and is also subject to
a lengthy customs clearance process. The GoD Department of
Environment appeared committed to reducing mercury use in the
medical field and stated that Delhi's hospitals are a "ready market"
for certified, Hg-free devices. COMMENT: GOI sponsorship could
reduce the customs wait time and reclassification of this equipment
as "life-saving instruments" could lower import tariffs.


8. (SBU) MEDICAL EQUIPMENT STANDARDS AND VERIFICATION: Medical
sector representatives pressed for the formation of a standards
committee to certify imported Hg-free devices and to establish
verification procedures. A participant commented that establishing
standards was undermined by systemic corruption within the Bureau of
Indian Standards. This comment was met by widespread agreement.


9. (U) LIGHTING SECTOR: The GOI continues to promote the use of
energy saving compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs),which are now
mandatory for commercial buildings in several states, in an attempt
to meet increased electricity demand for lighting. Despite the
mercury content of CFLs, the GOI expects the switch will result in
an overall reduction in the amount of mercury released into the
environment due to a net decrease in electricity consumed for
lighting. The lighting industry itself is at the forefront of
reducing Hg usage, with initiatives promoting Hg-free xenon auto
lights and high pressure sodium lamps. The Philips Company for
example has set a specific manufacturing target for reducing mercury

NEW DELHI 00004678 003.2 OF 003


in its lights. Industry representatives have also called for
implementation of disposal requirements and development of economic
incentives to promote low Hg lights in India.

MERCURY CONTAMINATION IN THE FOOD SUPPLY: WEST BENGAL STUDY
-------------- --------------


10. (U) Preliminary research investigating mercury levels in fish
from West Bengal suggests bioaccumulation may pose serious health
risks and warrants further investigation. The initial study,
completed by the Society for Direct Initiative for Social and Health
Action (DISHA),tested mercury levels found in the flesh of commonly
consumed fish species. Fish were retrieved from a variety of
locations exposed to different pollution levels and were purchased
from fishermen taking them to market. Fish constitutes a very large
part of a typical diet in West Bengal and mercury levels of certain
samples were substantially above the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency's maximum allowable intake threshold in more than one-third
of the commonly consumed species tested. The researcher is eager to
perform an expanded study, pending availability of funding.

MULFORD