Protocol on Heavy Metals

The '''Protocol on Heavy Metals''', a protocol to the [[Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution]], was adopted in [[Aarhus]], [[Denmark]], in 1998. As of 2004, it had 36 signatories.{{sfn|Hulme|2004|p=223}} As of 2016, it had 35 signatories and 33 parties, with no country having become a signatory since 1998.[https://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=XXVII-1-f&chapter=27&clang=_en United Nations Treaty Collection, status of Protocol on Heavy Metals.] The protocol addresses the reduction of [[cadmium]], [[lead]] and [[Mercury (element)|mercury]] emissions in the interests of [[environmental protection]].{{cite web|url=http://www.unece.org/env/lrtap/hm_h1.html|title=Protocol on Heavy Metals|publisher=UNECE |access-date=10 August 2014}} Amendments to the Protocol were agreed in 2012[http://www.unece.org/fileadmin/DAM/env/documents/2012/EB/Decision_2012_5.pdf Decision 2012/5.] to introduce more stringent emission limits[http://www.unece.org/index.php?id=31845 UNECE press release, 19 Dec 2012.] but are not yet in force.

The '''Protocol on Heavy Metals''', a protocol to the [[Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution]], was adopted in [[Aarhus]], [[Denmark]], in 1998. As of 2004, it had 36 signatories.{{sfn|Hulme|2004|p=223}} As of 2016, it had 35 signatories and 33 parties, with no country having become a signatory since 1998.[https://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=XXVII-1-f&chapter=27&clang=_en United Nations Treaty Collection, status of Protocol on Heavy Metals.] The protocol addresses the reduction of [[cadmium]], [[lead]] and [[Mercury (element)|mercury]] emissions in the interests of [[environmental protection]].{{cite web|url=http://www.unece.org/env/lrtap/hm_h1.html|title=Protocol on Heavy Metals|publisher=UNECE |access-date=10 August 2014}} Amendments to the Protocol were agreed in 2012[http://www.unece.org/fileadmin/DAM/env/documents/2012/EB/Decision_2012_5.pdf Decision 2012/5.] to introduce more stringent emission limits[http://www.unece.org/index.php?id=31845 UNECE press release, 19 Dec 2012.] but are not yet in force.

The protocol was established with the objective to control the airborne emissions of heavy metals caused by human activity.Canada, E. and C. C. (2022, September 2). ''Government of Canada''. Canada.ca. https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/corporate/international-affairs/partnerships-organizations/transboundary-air-pollution-heavy-metals.html These heavy metals were susceptible to long-range atmospheric transport and capable of causing adverse human health effects, including cancer and chronic respiratory diseases.Shetty SS, D D, S H, Sonkusare S, Naik PB, Kumari N S, Madhyastha H. Environmental pollutants and their effects on human health. Heliyon. 2023 Aug 25;9(9):e19496. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e19496. PMID: 37662771; PMCID: PMC10472068. The protocol specifically targeted the reduction of heavy metals emitted from all kinds of industrial processes, including the emissions from fossil fuel combustions; iron and steel industries; primary and secondary non-ferrous metal industries; the cement and glass industries; the chlor-alkali industry, and the waste management industry, each of which were assigned specific emission limit values and emission control measures.United Nations Economic Commission for Europe. 1998. ''TO THE 1979 CONVENTION ON LONG-RANGE TRANSBOUNDARY AIR POLLUTION ON HEAVY METALS''. https://unece.org/sites/default/files/2021-10/1998.Heavy_.Metals.e.pdfUnited Nations Economic Commission for Europe. (2012). ''Guidance document on best available techniques for controlling emissions of heavy metals and their compounds from the source categories listed in annex II.'' https://unece.org/DAM/env/documents/2012/air/Guidance_document_on_best_available_techniques_for_controlling_emissions_of_HM.pdf

The protocol was established with the objective to control the airborne emissions of heavy metals caused by human activity.Canada, E. and C. C. (2022, September 2). ''Government of Canada''. Canada.ca. https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/corporate/international-affairs/partnerships-organizations/transboundary-air-pollution-heavy-metals.html These heavy metals were susceptible to long-range atmospheric transport and capable of causing adverse human health effects, including cancer and chronic respiratory diseases.Shetty SS, D D, S H, Sonkusare S, Naik PB, Kumari N S, Madhyastha H. Environmental pollutants and their effects on human health. Heliyon. 2023 Aug 25;9(9):e19496. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e19496. PMID: 37662771; PMCID: PMC10472068. The protocol specifically targeted the reduction of heavy metals emitted from all kinds of industrial processes, including the emissions from fossil fuel combustions; iron and steel industries; primary and secondary non-ferrous metal industries; the cement and glass industries; the chlor-alkali industry, and the waste management industry, each of which were assigned specific emission limit values and emission control measures.United Nations Economic Commission for Europe. 1998. ''TO THE 1979 CONVENTION ON LONG-RANGE TRANSBOUNDARY AIR POLLUTION ON HEAVY METALS''. https://unece.org/sites/default/files/2021-10/1998.Heavy_.Metals.e.pdfUnited Nations Economic Commission for Europe. (2012). ''Guidance document on best available techniques for controlling emissions of heavy metals and their compounds from the source categories listed in annex II.'' https://unece.org/DAM/env/documents/2012/air/Guidance_document_on_best_available_techniques_for_controlling_emissions_of_HM.pdf These mitigation actions have contributed to the reduction of heavy metal emissions between 2005 and 2023m with cadmium emissions decreasing by 43%, mercury emissions by 57%, and lead emissions by 46% across the EU member states.{{Cite web |date=2025-09-16 |title=Heavy metal emissions in Europe |url=http://10.140.117.4:3000/en/analysis/indicators/heavy-metal-emissions-in-europe |access-date=2026-04-20 |website=10.140.117.4 |language=en}}

== History/Development ==

c

==References==

==References==