China Mercury-related Information Analysis Report China Chemicals Registration Center, State Environmental Protection Administration April 2005 1 Content ABSTRACT .............................................................................................................................................................3 PREFACE.................................................................................................................................................................5 CHINA MERCURY-RELATED INFORMATION ANALYSIS REPORT ............................................6 1 INDUSTRIES CONSUMING MERCURY FOR “INTENTIONAL USE”..............................................................6 1.1 Industries with detailed information ..............................................................................................6 GROSS PVC PRODUCTION....................................................................................................................................7 1.2 Products with limited information................................................................................................11 1.3 Industries/activities with information gap.................................................................................. 12 2 THE INDUSTRIES OF MERCURY RELEASE FROM UNINTENTIONAL USE ................................................13 2.1 Industries with detailed information ........................................................................................... 13 2.2 Industries with limited information ............................................................................................. 14 2.3 Industries with information gap................................................................................................... 14 3 MERCURY IN VARIOUS ENVIRONMENTAL MEDIA...................................................................................15 3.1 Atmosphere...................................................................................................................................... 15 3.2 Soil.................................................................................................................................................... 17 3.3 Living Organisms............................................................................................................................ 19 3.4 Comprehensive Data...................................................................................................................... 20 4 INTEGRATIVE ANALYSIS............................................................................................................................22 4.1 Typical area ..................................................................................................................................... 22 4.2 Nationwide....................................................................................................................................... 25 4.3 Comprehensive analysis and evaluation.................................................................................... 26 5 CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................................28 6 REFERENCE.................................................................................................................................................30 APPENDIX 1 Industries intentionally using mercury APPENDIX 2 Industries/activities unintentionally using mercury APPENDIX 3 Mercury in different environmental media. 2 Abstract This project is in collaboration with the State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA) of China and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency(USEPA). The tasks for this project consist of two parts: (1) Collection of various information relating to mercury in China, including policy and legal standards, science research documents, statistics, publications, etc. (2) Analysis and estimation of data for industries mercury use (including discharges of mercury into the environment from “intentional” and “unintentional” use) and the environment (i.e. air, water, soil and biology) for China, according to the categorization in the report of “Global Mercury Assessment” by UNEP. All materials and data were synthesized into three appendices: Appendix 1: Industries intentionally using mercury; Appendix 2: Industries/activities unintentionally using mercury; Appendix 3: mercury in different environmental media. All mercury emission sources listed in GMA can be found in China to some extent. Among them, there are over 10 industries that intentionally use mercury during their production process, and 4 industries/activities that emit mercury unintentionally. The analysis and evaluation of this report categorizes mercury-related industries into three groups, namely “good”, “medium” and “bad”, according to the amount of available and credible information these industries possess regarding mercury use. Comprehensive basic information is available for industries of the “good” category, including the background for these industries, statistics for consecutive years, and other more sufficient and reliable information. The industries in the “good” category include PVC, battery, thermometer and sphygmomanometer producers. For industries/activities assigned the “medium” category, the industries possess some information related to their mercury use, but the integrity and continuity of this information is of lower quality. These industries include florescent light and reagent producers, and coal burning activity. No information is available for industries in the “bad” category. These industries include automobile, electric switches, cement producers and metallurgical plants. Different environmental media can also be categorized into “good”, “medium” and “bad”, according to the amount of available and credible information. For 3 media such as water, which is categorized as “good”, sufficient background and historical data from routine monitoring have been accumulated. With relatively more literature, scientists can make scientific evaluations on the regional and national levels. For media such as air, which is categorized as “medium”, neither background nor historical data from routine monitoring have been accumulated. Yet, with relatively more literature, scientists can make partial scientific evaluations on the regional and national levels. For media such as soil and living organisms, which is categorized as“bad”, there are neither background nor historical data from routine monitoring. Although there is some relevant academic literature, it is not sufficient for making scientific evaluations on the regional and national levels. The data show that, in China, mercury-related information varies rapidly and significately, especially in the intentional use; weaknesses and inconsistencies in the fundamental data collected; and, mercury consumption is influenced deeply by the policy and management. On the base of analysis, it is suggested before carrying out any plans/actions for making release lists or deductions on essential limitations or restrictions, detailed investigations on the historical development, current status and prospects for mercury must be carried out, and the methods for investigation must be harmonized. 4 Preface Mercury is confirmed as a global pollutant. It draws close attention from the public, scientists, governments and international organizations. UNEP completed the Global Mercury Assessment at the end of 2002. In February 2005, UNEP Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum passed the international action plans for mercury. China’s consumption and release of mercury not only affects the health of its people and eco-environment, but also has deep impacts globally. China’s Sate Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA) and US Environmental Protection Agency(EPA) initially started cooperating in this area with the objective to summarize and analyze China’s mercury situation. This report was completed by the Chemical Registration Center of the SEPA of China, with the support of the Pollution Control Department and Foreign Affairs Office of SEPA. From October 2004 to April 2005, all public information concerning mercury in China was collected, including various policies, regulations and standard; scientific research literature; statistics, and other publications. According to “Global Mercury Assessment” (GMA), mercury discharge sources are divided into: mercury release resulting from intentional and unintentional use; and the key environmental elements are divded into four parts: air, water, soil and living organisms.All data are analyzed and assessed separately. 5 China Mercury-related Information Analysis Report 1 Industries consuming mercury for “intentional use” 1.1 Industrie s with detailed information Basic information for industries consuming mercury is either relatively complete or easy to acquire; mercury utilization techniques and discharge approaches are already well known; and policies, legal standards and laws have been enacted and are well supported. On the other hand, there have been actions and measures taken in the form of policies and legal standards to restrict the mercury use or render it obsolete. The PVC Industry Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) constitutes a vital part of China’s manufacturing economy. The demand for PVC in China is high and is predicted to continue at an increasingly rapid rate. The Chinese PVC industry has its own guild with approximately 100 members.