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Nations agree on global, legally binding treaty on mercury emissions: Minamata Convention on Mercury

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At the conclusion of the International Negotiating Committee on Mercury ( INC5 ) meeting in Geneva ( earlier post ), nations agreed on a global, legally-binding treaty to prevent mercury emissions and releases. Mercury in cold cathode fluorescent lamps and external electrode fluorescent lamps. Switches and relays.

Mercury 250
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Final session on international mercury convention this week expected to culminate in agreement; UNEP Global Mercury Assessment 2013 finds industrial source Hg emissions may be rising

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Comparison of Hg emissions in 2005 and 2010, by selected sector and region. Unintentional emission sectors: Coal burning, ferrous- and non-ferrous (Au, Cu, Hg, Pb, Zn) metal production, cement production. Intentional-use sectors: Disposal and incineration of product waste, cremation emissions, chlor-alkali industry.

Mercury 262
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EIA: US energy-related CO2 emissions in 2012 lowest since 1994; reflects drop in coal use

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US energy-related CO 2 emissions in 2012 were the lowest since 1994, at 5.3 With the exception of 2010, emissions have declined every year since 2007. The largest drop in emissions in 2012 came from coal, which is used almost exclusively for electricity generation. Duke study.

Coal 265
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Upper atmosphere facilitates changes that let mercury enter food chain

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New research shows that the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere work to transform elemental mercury into oxidized mercury, which can easily be deposited into aquatic ecosystems and ultimately enter the food chain. Exposures to mercury can affect the human nervous system and harm the brain, heart, kidneys, lungs, and immune system.

Mercury 210
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EPA proposing mercury rule for taconite iron ore processing plants

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The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing amendments to the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for taconite iron ore processing plants that include new emission standards for mercury as well as revising the existing emission standards for hydrogen chloride and hydrogen fluoride.

Mercury 199
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EPA issues first National Standards for mercury and air toxics pollution from power plants

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The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS), the first national standards for power plant emissions of mercury and toxic air pollutants (also known as hazardous air pollutants, HAPs) such as arsenic, acid gas, nickel, selenium, and cyanide. fossil-fuel-fired power plants.

Mercury 199
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New analysis finds Asia produces twice as much mercury emissions as previously thought

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New analysis by an international team led by MIT researchers shows that Asia now releases a surprisingly large amount of anthropogenic mercury. The new analysis provides more accurate estimates of sources of mercury emissions around the world. The team’s top-down analysis improves on other models that take a bottom-up approach.

Mercury 150