This month, federal authorities finally announced an upcoming ban on mercury-containing pesticide in Australia. We are one of the last countries in the world to do so, despite overwhelming evidence over more than 60 years that mercury use as fungicide in agriculture is dangerous

Haberle, Simon G.

Holley, Cameron

Schneider, Larissa

Sinclair, Darren

English

Haberle, Simon

The Australian National University

Ban on toxic mercury looms in sugar cane farming, but Australia still has a way to go

This month, federal authorities finally announced an upcoming ban on mercury-containing pesticide in Australia. We are one of the last countries in the world to do so, despite overwhelming evidence over more than 60 years that mercury use as fungicide in agriculture is dangerous.Mercury is a toxic element that damages human health and the environment, even in low concentrations. In humans, mercury exposure is associated with problems such as kidney damage, neurological impairment and delayed cognitive development in children

University of Canberra Research Repository

22/10/2020 Ban on toxic mercury looms in sugar cane farming, but Australia still has a way to gohttps://theconversation.com/ban-on-toxic-mercury-looms-in-sugar-cane-farming-but-australia-still-has-a-way-to-go-140596 1/6AuthorsLarissa SchneiderDECRA fellow, Australian NationalUniversityCameron HolleyProfessor, UNSWDarren SinclairProfessor, University of CanberraCloseAcademic rigour, journalistic flairThis month, federal authorities finally announced an upcoming ban on mercury-containing pesticide in Australia. We are one of the last countries in the world to do so,despite overwhelming evidence over more than 60 years that mercury use as fungicide inagriculture is dangerous.Mercury is a toxic element that damages human health and the environment, even in lowconcentrations. In humans, mercury exposure is associated with problems such as kidneydamage, neurological impairment and delayed cognitive development in children.Phil / CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)Ban on toxic mercury looms in sugar cane farming, but Australiastill has a way to goJune 22, 2020 6.07am AEST22/10/2020 Ban on toxic mercury looms in sugar cane farming, but Australia still has a way to gohttps://theconversation.com/ban-on-toxic-mercury-looms-in-sugar-cane-farming-but-australia-still-has-a-way-to-go-140596 2/6Simon HaberleProfessor, Australian National UniversityRead more: Australia emits mercury at double the global averageThe ban will prevent about 5,280 kilograms of mercury entering the Australian environment eachyear.Get your news from people who know what they’re talking about.But Australia is yet to ratify an international treaty to reduce mercury emissions from other sources,such as the dental industry and coal-fired power stations. This is our next challenge.A mercury disasterMercury became a popular pesticide ingredient for agriculture in the early 1900s, and a number ofpoisoning events ensued throughout the world.They include the Iraq grain disaster in 1971-72, when grain seed treated with mercury was importedfrom Mexico and the United States. The seed was not meant for human consumption, but ruralcommunities used it to make bread, and 459 people died.Hear from themPrime Minister Scott Morrison visiting a sugar cane farm in 2019. Mercury-containing pesticides will be banned. CameronLaird/AAP22/10/2020 Ban on toxic mercury looms in sugar cane farming, but Australia still has a way to gohttps://theconversation.com/ban-on-toxic-mercury-looms-in-sugar-cane-farming-but-australia-still-has-a-way-to-go-140596 3/6In the decades since, most countries have banned the production and/or use of mercury-basedpesticides on crops. In 1995 Australia discontinued their use in most applications, such as turffarming.Despite this, authorities exempted a fungicide containing mercuryknown as Shirtan. They restricted its use to sugar cane farming inQueensland, New South Wales, Western Australia and the NorthernTerritory.According to the sugar cane industry, about 80% of growers use Shirtanto treat pineapple sett rot disease.But this month, the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary MedicinesAuthority cancelled the approval of the mercury-containing activeingredient in Shirtan, methoxyethylmercuric chloride. The decision wasmade at the request of the ingredient’s manufacturer, Alpha Chemicals.Shirtan’s registration was cancelled last week. It will no longer beproduced in Australia, but existing supplies can be sold to, and used by,sugar cane farmers for the next year until it is fully banned.Workers and nature at riskOver the past 25 years, Australia’s continued use of Shirtan allowed about 50,000 kilograms of mercury into the environment. The effect on river and reef ecosystems is largely unknown.What is known is that mercury can be toxic even at very low concentrations, and research is needed tounderstand its ecological impacts.The use of mercury-based pesticide has also created a high risk of exposure for sugar cane workers. Atmost risk are those not familiar with safety procedures for handling toxic materials, and who mayhave been poorly supervised. This risk has been exacerbated by the use itinerant workers, particularlythose from a non-English speaking background.Emissions of the element mercury are a threat to humanhealth and the environment. Wikimedia22/10/2020 Ban on toxic mercury looms in sugar cane farming, but Australia still has a way to gohttps://theconversation.com/ban-on-toxic-mercury-looms-in-sugar-cane-farming-but-australia-still-has-a-way-to-go-140596 4/6Further, in the hot and humid conditions of Northern Australia, it has been reported that workersmay have removed protective gloves to avoid sweating. Again, research is needed to determine theimplication of these practices for human health.To this end, Mercury Australia, a multi-disciplinary network of researchers, has formed to address theenvironmental, health and other issues surrounding mercury use, both contemporary and historical.Australia is yet to ratifyThe Minamata Convention on Mercury is a global treaty to control mercury use and release into theenvironment. Australia signed onto the convention in 2013 but is yet to ratify it.Until the treaty is ratified, Australia is not legally bound to its obligations. It also places us at oddswith more than 100 countries that have ratified it, including many of Australia’s developed-nationcounterparts.Australia’s outlier status in this area is shown in the below table:Mercury-based pesticide use was one of Australia’s largest sources of mercury emissions. But ifAustralia ratifies the convention, it would be required to control other sources of mercury emissions,such as dental amalgam and the burning of coal in power stations.South Sea Islanders hoeing a cane field in Queensland, 1902. Cane workers have long been exposed to mercury. StateLibrary of QueenslandAccession, acceptance or ratification have the same legal effect, where parties follow legal obligations under internationallaw.22/10/2020 Ban on toxic mercury looms in sugar cane farming, but Australia still has a way to gohttps://theconversation.com/ban-on-toxic-mercury-looms-in-sugar-cane-farming-but-australia-still-has-a-way-to-go-140596 5/6The three active power stations in the Latrobe Valley, for example, together emit about 1,200 kilograms of mercury each year.Time to look at coalIf Australia ratified the Minamata Convention, it would provide impetus for a timely review and, ifnecessary, update of mercury regulations across Australia.Emissions from coal-fired power stations in Australia are regulated by the states through pollutioncontrol licences. Some states would likely have to amend these licences if Australia ratified theconvention. For example, Victorian licences for coal-fired power stations currently do not include limits on mercury emissions.Pollution control technologies were introduced at Australian coal plants in the early 1990s. But they do not match state-of-the-art technologies applied to coal plants in North America and Europe.Read more: Why won't Australia ratify an international deal to cut mercury pollution?Australian environment authorities have been examining the implications of ratifying the convention.But progress is slow.The issue of mercury emissions does not attract significant public or political attention. But there is a global scientific consensus that coordinated international action is needed.The pesticide phase-out and ban is an important step. But Australia still has a way to go.The coal-burning Mount Piper Power station near Lithgow in NSW. Government efforts to reduce mercury emissions shouldfocus on coal plants. David Gray/Reuters22/10/2020 Ban on toxic mercury looms in sugar cane farming, but Australia still has a way to gohttps://theconversation.com/ban-on-toxic-mercury-looms-in-sugar-cane-farming-but-australia-still-has-a-way-to-go-140596 6/6Pollution Pesticides Mercury sugar cane heavy metals Fungicide Minamata Convention methylmercury

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Ban on toxic mercury looms in sugar cane farming, but Australia still has a way to go

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