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Friday, October 11, 2013

EDITORIAL: Minamata Convention on Mercury hardly the end of the road

There are some problems with the convention. One issue that has yet to be settled is the setting of deadlines on the abolition of mercury use in small-scale gold mining operations. Still, it is significant that the international community took a step forward to regulate mercury use.
Both China, which is the world’s largest user and emitter of mercury, and the United States, which has maintained a cautious stance toward treaties concerning chemical substances and waste, took part in the negotiations. If these two countries ratify the convention, it would be useful in preventing future damage.
http://ajw.asahi.com/article/views/editorial/AJ201310110023

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