Millions of artisan and small-scale gold miners in more than 70 countries use mercury, causing more mercury pollution on Earth than any other human activity. “The health effects on the miners are dire, with inhaled mercury leading to neurological damage and other health issues. The communities near these mines are also affected due to mercury contamination of water and soil and subsequent accumulation in food staples, such as fish – a major source of dietary protein” in many regions of artisanal and small-scale gold mining according to the studies.
Since mercury-based artisanal and small-scale mining is the largest source of mercury pollution, this issue became global.
At the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on mercury in Geneva, Switzerland on 19 January 2013 was agreed the Minamata Convention, which was adopted later on 10 October 2013 at a Diplomatic Conference (Conference of Plenipotentiaries), held in Kumamoto, Japan.
According to the original source “The Minamata Convention on Mercury is a global treaty to protect human health and the environment from the adverse effects of mercury”, and “major highlights of the Minamata Convention include a ban on new mercury mines, the phase-out of existing ones”.