There’s a list of products that contain mercury and whose production and sale is going to be halted by 2020. Some of them are thermometers, manometers, sphygmomanometers, devices measuring blood pressure, barometers…
Managing director of the Environment Directorate in the Ministry of Sustainable Development and Tourism, MORiT, Ms Ivana Vojinović, in an interview for Pobjeda daily reminded that mercury is an extremely toxic substance that might seriously endanger human health and the environment as well if emitted in the air, soil or water. Therefore, the ratification of the Minamata Convention on Mercury, Ms Vojinović added, represented a huge step forwards in the fight against mercury pollution.
“Montenegro is taking part in all the international endeavors to control mercury air emissions and its release into soil and waters, as it [Montenegro] seriously takes into account human health,” she added.
The most significant part of the Convention, according to Ms Vojinović, includes a ban on products that contain mercury, i.e. undertaking measures that would control the production, import and exports of such products.
It is necessary to raise awareness about mercury exposure
Montenegro needs to do a lot more to raise public awareness about mercury pollution, safe use of chemicals, potential risks and ecological culture.
“We planned a range of activities with this aim. It’s planned to draft and distribute educational and informative material especially designed for a specific target group (e.g. pregnant women and children), in order to raise awareness of the public about possible adverse effects of the chemicals for human health and the environment, the adequate alternatives and ways for minimizing risks,” said Ms Vojinović.
