Protocol on Heavy Metals
The 1998 Aarhus Protocol on Heavy Metals
| The Executive Body adopted the Protocol on Heavy Metals
on 24 June 1998 in Aarhus (Denmark). It targets three particularly
harmful metals: cadmium, lead and mercury. According to one
of the basic obligations, Parties will have to reduce their emissions
for these three metals below their levels in 1990 (or an alternative
year between 1985 and 1995). The Protocol aims to cut emissions from
industrial sources (iron and steel industry, non-ferrous metal industry),
combustion processes (power generation, road transport) and waste
incineration. It lays down stringent limit values for emissions
from stationary sources and suggests best available techniques (BAT)
for these sources, such as special filters or scrubbers for combustion
sources or mercury-free processes. The Protocol requires Parties to
phase out leaded petrol. It also introduces measures to lower
heavy metal emissions from other products, such as mercury in batteries,
and proposes the introduction of management measures for other mercury-containing
products, such as electrical components (thermostats, switches), measuring
devices (thermometers, manometers, barometers), fluorescent lamps,
dental amalgam, pesticides and paint. |