VZCZCXRO5511
RR RUEHHM RUEHLN RUEHMA RUEHPB RUEHPOD
DE RUEHNE #4678/01 2950649
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 220649Z OCT 07
FM AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8909
INFO RUEHCI/AMCONSUL KOLKATA 1054
RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI 1727
RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI 0814
RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI 8213
RUEHLH/AMCONSUL LAHORE 4174
RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHDC
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC
RUEHC/DEPT OF INTERIOR WASHDC
RUEHPH/CDC ATLANTA GA
RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHDC
RUCPDC/NOAA WASHDC
RUEHRC/USDA FAS WASHDC
RUEAEPA/EPA WASHDC
RUEHZN/ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 NEW DELHI 004678 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR OES/PCI, OES/ENV, AND SCA/INS 
STATE FOR STAS 
DOE FOR INTERNATIONAL 
HHS FOR OGHA STEIGER, HICKEY AND VALDEZ 
NIH FOR GLASS AND MAMPILLY 
FDA FOR LUMPKIN AND WELSCH 
CDC FOR BLOUNT AND FARRELL 
INTERIOR FOR FWS RILEY 
STATE PASS TO NSF FOR INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: SENV TSPL TBIO ECON SOCI KSCA IN
SUBJECT:  NATIONAL WORKSHOP EMPHASIZES MERCURY MANAGEMENT 
 
 
NEW DELHI 00004678  001.2 OF 003 
 
 
¶1.  (U) Summary:  ESTHOffs attended a national workshop focused on 
"Mercury Usage, Processes, and Impacts in India," hosted by Indian 
NGO Toxics Link on 27-29 September.  India is one of the world's 
biggest consumers of mercury (Hg) and both private sector and 
government representatives in attendance emphasized the need for 
improved mercury management, from import through disposal.  The 
Government of India (GOI) announced plans to form a Task Force on Hg 
management and discussed international regulations, while Government 
of Delhi officials discussed current and proposed initiatives to 
improve practices and raise awareness about the dangers of Hg. 
Representatives from the chlor-alkali, medical/dental, lighting, and 
wastewater treatment sectors provided an overview of key initiatives 
and challenges associated with reducing Hg dependency.  An initial 
study of fish in West Bengal suggests that mercury contamination is 
above the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's maximum allowable 
intake threshold in more than one-third of the commonly consumed 
species tested.  End summary. 
 
GOI ANNOUNCES NEW COMMITTEE TO STUDY MERCURY USAGE 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
 
¶2.  (SBU) Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) Joint 
Secretary, Mr. R.K. Vaish, announced the formation of a "mercury 
 
SIPDIS 
management" Task Force (TF) limited in purview to key Hg-intensive 
sectors.  Initially, the TF will focus on increasing the use of 
compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs), establish standards for 
their maximum allowable mercury content, and possibly address CFL 
recycling concerns.  Dr. G.K. Pandey of the MoEF explained the TF 
will not address mercury emissions from coal-fired thermal power 
plants explaining such emissions were a secondary concern to be 
addressed by the GOI in the unspecified future. 
 
INTERNATIONAL REGULATION DISCUSSED 
---------------------------------- 
 
¶3.  (SBU) A representative from the NGO Health Care Without Harm 
lamented that, "India and the United States are two of the countries 
that have been most resistant" to international regulation of the 
mercury trade.  Dr. Pandey responded that the issue would have to be 
addressed by the new Task Force, but remained non-committal and 
exhibited minimal interest in the discussion.  Representatives from 
the European Union presented data regarding their Hg regulatory 
scheme which was met with interest from Indian industry 
representatives.  Currently, India does not regulate the handling or 
sale of mercury, but does have regulations for domestic disposal. 
 
¶4.  (SBU) COMMENT:  Infrastructure remains inadequate for 
enforcement of Hg disposal regulations.  Restricting the import of 
mercury into India could have unintended negative consequences if 
effective waste management and recycling programs are not 
established in parallel.  If the price of mercury rises due to a 
decrease in net availability, trash-pickers would have a greater 
incentive to collect mercury from medical and other waste products 
for resale on the black market.  This could lead to increased 
exposure to the neurotoxin among this vulnerable population, often 
comprised of destitute Indian children. 
 
GOVERNMENT OF DELHI MERCURY INITIATIVES 
--------------------------------------- 
 
¶5.  (U) Government of Delhi (GoD) representatives emphasized the 
need to increase public awareness about the dangers of mercury and 
to develop a strategy to reduce usage.  Mercury has historically 
been thought to hold mystical healing properties; misinformation and 
lack of awareness remain serious healthcare challenges.  GoD has 
been producing films for schools to raise awareness and would like 
to expand the campaign to educate healthcare practitioners. 
 
NEW DELHI 00004678  002.2 OF 003 
 
 
Additionally, GoD expressed interest in working with the World 
Health Organization to assess mercury usage and healthcare waste 
management programs.  Officials also called for a "best practices" 
manual, to provide guidelines for a comprehensive handling and 
disposal strategy.  GoD representatives were also interested in 
purchasing Hg-free medical equipment and in discussing Hg 
trafficking and trade issues.  COMMENT:  Despite the fact several 
"best practices" manuals are available and in use in India, 
coordination of best practices and information sharing remains a 
significant challenge. 
 
REDUCING MERCURY USAGE IN KEY SECTORS 
------------------------------------- 
 
¶6.  (U) CHLOR-ALKALI INDUSTRY:  Chlor-alkali production in India is 
approximately fifty times more mercury-intensive than the global 
average and is responsible for greater net mercury emissions than 
the combined release from all of India's coal-fired power plants, 
according to data provided at the workshop.  This highly 
mercury-intensive industry produces hydrogen, chlorine and sodium 
hydroxide as end products, and is now taking voluntary action to 
phase-out Hg use in its production processes with a domestic goal of 
completely eliminating industrial Hg use by 2012.  All but nine 
chlor-alkali facilities, which account for approximately 12% of 
India's overall production, have converted to a newer, more 
efficient Hg-free membrane cell process.  Significant challenges 
remain to implementing sustainable mercury management, including 
accurate assessment and full disclosure of industrial mercury usage 
and disposal practices.  The mercury recovered from decommissioned 
chlor-alkali plants is often resold into the market, depressing 
prices and increasing availability for other uses. 
 
¶7.  (SBU) MEDICAL SECTOR:  Representatives from the medical field 
described significant challenges, frustrating experiences, and 
disincentives discouraging medical facilities in India from 
obtaining Hg-free equipment and reducing their Hg footprint. 
Certified, mercury-free thermometers and blood pressure monitors are 
not readily available in India.  Breakage of these devices coupled 
with inadequate disposal techniques represents a major source of 
exposure.  According to the experience of one hospital 
administrator, import of Hg-free devices is subject to a 36.73% 
import tariff, as opposed to the standard 9%, and is also subject to 
a lengthy customs clearance process.  The GoD Department of 
Environment appeared committed to reducing mercury use in the 
medical field and stated that Delhi's hospitals are a "ready market" 
for certified, Hg-free devices.  COMMENT:  GOI sponsorship could 
reduce the customs wait time and reclassification of this equipment 
as "life-saving instruments" could lower import tariffs. 
 
¶8.  (SBU) MEDICAL EQUIPMENT STANDARDS AND VERIFICATION:  Medical 
sector representatives pressed for the formation of a standards 
committee to certify imported Hg-free devices and to establish 
verification procedures.  A participant commented that establishing 
standards was undermined by systemic corruption within the Bureau of 
Indian Standards.  This comment was met by widespread agreement. 
 
¶9.  (U) LIGHTING SECTOR:  The GOI continues to promote the use of 
energy saving compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs), which are now 
mandatory for commercial buildings in several states, in an attempt 
to meet increased electricity demand for lighting.  Despite the 
mercury content of CFLs, the GOI expects the switch will result in 
an overall reduction in the amount of mercury released into the 
environment due to a net decrease in electricity consumed for 
lighting.  The lighting industry itself is at the forefront of 
reducing Hg usage, with initiatives promoting Hg-free xenon auto 
lights and high pressure sodium lamps.  The Philips Company for 
example has set a specific manufacturing target for reducing mercury 
 
NEW DELHI 00004678  003.2 OF 003 
 
 
in its lights.  Industry representatives have also called for 
implementation of disposal requirements and development of economic 
incentives to promote low Hg lights in India. 
 
MERCURY CONTAMINATION IN THE FOOD SUPPLY:  WEST BENGAL STUDY 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
 
¶10.  (U) Preliminary research investigating mercury levels in fish 
from West Bengal suggests bioaccumulation may pose serious health 
risks and warrants further investigation.  The initial study, 
completed by the Society for Direct Initiative for Social and Health 
Action (DISHA), tested mercury levels found in the flesh of commonly 
consumed fish species.  Fish were retrieved from a variety of 
locations exposed to different pollution levels and were purchased 
from fishermen taking them to market.  Fish constitutes a very large 
part of a typical diet in West Bengal and mercury levels of certain 
samples were substantially above the U.S. Environmental Protection 
Agency's maximum allowable intake threshold in more than one-third 
of the commonly consumed species tested.  The researcher is eager to 
perform an expanded study, pending availability of funding. 
 
MULFORD