Staff Reporter
ENVIRONMENTAL and health experts have warned about the risks of internal and external exposure to mercury, regardless of the quantity or level of contamination.
Highlighting the hazards of mercury on humans, Dr Hassan Eljar, acting head of occupational health at the National Health Authority (NHA) said acute emissions and chronic exposure to mercury could lead to brain damage and breakdown of the central nervous system.
Speaking at a media programme organised by the Supreme Council for the Environment and Natural Reserves (SCENR) to mark the launch of the “mercury project”, he said that the accumulation of mercury in natural ecosystems is an environmental concern because it inflicts increasing levels of harm on species higher up the food chain.
The SCENR is championing, in collaboration with other sectors like health, industry, agriculture and education in Qatar, the “mercury project” aimed at ensuring chemical safety in the environment. It is supported by the United Nations’ environmental programme.
Dr Eljar explained that mercury poisoning occurs through a process known as biomagnification, where persistent substances like mercury increase in concentration from micro-organisms to fish and to humans, who consume such fish.
A consultant with the National Health Authority (NHA) Dr Wasif M Alam listed ways through which humans can bio-accumulate mercury into their system.
“Humans can accumulate mercury through medicines with long shelf life, cosmetics, skin lightening creams and dental amalgam,” he said.
Mercury is also used in thermometres, barometres and in some cloth industries.
He said because there has been no research or study on mercury prevalence in Qatar, no known cases of mercury poisoning have been recorded.
He added that a lot of people from Asia are exposed to high emissions of mercury because they tend to make use of skin whitening creams, while adding that such cases call for serious concern.
Speaking about the mercury programme, the project co-ordinator at the SCENR Nouf al-Sulaiti said the project will run for two years.
“We are all combining efforts to ensure chemical safety in Qatar by putting in place a strategic approach which will be implemented over a two year period,” al-Sulaiti said.
He said that the group has commenced a baseline survey to collect information and develop an inventory of mercury usage in the country.
He explained further that the group hopes to come up with plans of finding an end to using mercury by providing alternatives, adding that the process has to be gradual. “We are kick-starting the project with the medical group and our officials have started administering questionnaire to about 500 hospitals and clinics in the country,” he said.
According to al-Sulaiti, a national awareness campaign programme would soon begin where information about the hazards of mercury would be provided to the general public.
“We are planning to organise seminars and workshops in schools and other places within the country,” he said. |
