Management of mercury exposure in Armenia

Exposure to mercury and mercury compounds is harmful to human health, especially for fetuses and children at early stages of development. In 2013 the Minamata Convention on Mercury was adopted by the international community with the aim of preventing negative impacts on human health and the environment from mercury. It places certain obligations on parties that require action by the health sector, in coordination and cooperation with other competent sectors as applicable, including the identification of exposed population groups and assessment of the risk from exposure to mercury.

A workshop was organized in September 2017 by the Ministry of Nature Protection of Armenia in the framework of the Minamata Convention Initial Assessment of Armenia project (carried out by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization and funded by the Global Environment Facility). Its aim was to raise awareness of the effects on health of mercury and its compounds; to provide training for public health and other allied professionals in assessing the risks from mercury; and to discuss the next steps for early implementation of the Convention.