Most of us know interesting facts about mercury, the only liquid metal which is fondly called quicksilver. However, this silvery… metal is a highly toxic element that can threaten our health and the environment. It is commonly used in some everyday consumer products such as compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs), some thermometers, and can even be found in silver dental amalgam fillings and some personal cosmetics, such as some skin-lightening creams widely used in the Caribbean.
Due to the severity of its impacts, the Minamata Convention on Mercury was developed by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in 2013 to address the anthropogenic emissions and releases of this metal into the environment.
Photo source: mahnken From Getty Images
Prolonged use and exposure to mercury can affect the nervous system causing tremors, exaggerated changes in mood, and insomnia. The inhalation of mercury vapours can also affect the lungs, digestive and immune systems which may be fatal.
In the Caribbean region, exposure to mercury may occur when persons interact with broken items containing mercury, such as broken CFL bulbs, through skin-lightening creams containing mercury or in some artisanal or small-scale gold mining practices where mercury amalgamation is employed. The Basel Convention Regional Centre for Training and Technology Transfer for the Caribbean (BCRC-Caribbean) has been working to support some Caribbean nations in assessing their national mercury situation and raising awareness to protect human health and the environment. The animated character, Captain Minamata, was created to act as a champion of the campaign to facilitate the mainstreaming of readily available alternatives to products containing mercury and mercury-free processes. This campaign is targeted to persons of all ages to ensure that everyone can learn how to join the battle against mercury!
Check out the Adventures of Captain Minamata as he explains more about mercury in the Caribbean.
For more information on mercury management in the Caribbean, visit our social media pages:
Website https://www.bcrc-caribbean.org/our-projects/mercury-management
Credit: Source link
