South African Mercury Assessment SAMA Programme Mercury Pollution

South African Mercury Assessment (SAMA) Programme: Mercury Pollution in South Africa October 2007

SAMA Timeline • Mar 2006: Launch of South African Mercury Assessment (SAMA) Programme by CSIR, DEAT, DWAF, SASOL, ESKOM, Groundwork NGO, University of Stellenbosch, University of Witwatersrand University of Connecticut • Jun 2007: Developed Framework for Hg Research in SA • Apr 2006: First Sampling of Hg Levels in SAn Water Resources • Jul 2007: Purchase of Tekran Hg Instrument – throughout SA • Jul/Aug 2007: National Survey of Hg in SAn Water Resources • Oct 2007: Plans Approved for Development of Hg Reference Laboratory Slide 2 © CSIR 2006 www. csir. co. za

SAMA Programme: Key Objectives Regulatory framework Analytical methods Source, fate, transport & speciation Impacts (ecological and human health) Slide 3 © CSIR 2006 www. csir. co. za

SAMA Programme: Key Objectives Regulatory framework Development of a revised South African regulatory framework will be supported, that is: a. informed by good science & good governance, and b. integrated with other SAMA research focus areas. § § § Slide 4 The framework may include: a policy that guides informed decision making, a practical strategy that implements the policy, and practical management tools (e. g. guidelines, decisionsupport software) to implement the strategy. © CSIR 2006 www. csir. co. za

SAMA Programme: Key Objectives Analytical methods The need for an accredited reference laboratory will also be assessed. § § § Slide 5 Such a laboratory could be used to: validate critical research data, facilitate inter-laboratory comparisons, and ensure South Africa remains abreast of new global trends in analytical techniques. © CSIR 2006 www. csir. co. za

SAMA Programme: Key Objectives Source, fate, transport & speciation Research is necessary to better understand quantify where mercury originates, and how it changes in form and is transported through the environment in southern Africa. § § § Slide 6 We will consider: Establishing a national mercury monitoring programme (air, water, leachates, sediments, biota); Establishing a national inventory of mercury sources (nature of the data required, explicit on assumptions made); and Advocating use of cleaner technology options, as alternatives to fossil fuel combustion / waste incineration. © CSIR 2006 www. csir. co. za

SAMA Programme: Key Objectives Impacts (ecological and human health) A risk assessment approach will be taken to characterize the impacts of mercury on aquatic ecosystems and human health. § § Slide 7 Consider: Providing guidance on the phasing out of mercurycontaining measuring devices by promoting the use of anaerobic electronic measuring devices. Providing guidance on the safe collection and long term recycling/disposal of mercury-containing measuring devices. © CSIR 2006 www. csir. co. za

Current Research & Partnerships ü Inventory ð Coal Combustion (Coal Fired Power Plants) ð Waste Incineration ð Cement Production ü Hg in Ecosystems (CSIR/Univ of Connecticut) ð National Survey of Hg (Air, Water, Sediment, Biota) ð GIS maps of South Africa: Hg “hotspots”, based on air quality guidelines and data obtained ð Interactive Multi-Media Tool (MERIECO Model): linking ecosystems and anthropogenic Hg sources ü Hg Scenarios (CSIR/NILU) ð Assess Current and Future Emissions of Hg from Anthropogenic Sources in South Africa Mercury (Scenarios) Slide 8 © CSIR 2006 www. csir. co. za

Current Research & Partnerships ü Hg in Waste ð Investigate potential for Hg entering general waste landfills (household waste, etc. ); ð Develop a database on trade of Hg and Hg-containing materials in South Africa; ð Characterise Hg in waste. ü Hg Biosensors / Chemosensors ð Develop and construct micro, low cost disposable sensors to measure Hg pollution in water resources (ppm or ppb levels) ü Hg Indicators: Use of Lichens ð Foliose lichens: good matrix for airborne Hg absorb nutrients exclusively from air / rainwater and their metabolism is not linked to tree’s growth Slide 9 © CSIR 2006 www. csir. co. za

Major Urban Areas, Cement Production Units & Coal-Fired Power Stations Slide 10 © CSIR 2006 www. csir. co. za

Hg Inventory Important Variables • • • Coal consumption (i. e tonnes per year) Mercury concentration in coal Emission reduction devices • Electrostatic precipitators (ESP) • Fabric Filter bags (FF) • Flue-gas desulphurisation (FGD) Coal washing Mercury speciation - Hg 0, Hg 2+ & Hgp Slide 11 © CSIR 2006 www. csir. co. za

Coal Consumption in South Africa Slide 12 © CSIR 2006 www. csir. co. za

Inventory: Supplying Coal Mine & Estimates of Coal Consumption (Mtonnes/yr) for South Africa’s Coal-Fired Power Stations Power Station Coal Mine WMA Coal Consumption Matimba (ESP) Grootgeluk 1. Limpopo 17. 4 Matla (ESP + FGD) Matla 4. Olifants 15. 5 Duvha (FGD) Middleburg 4. Olifants 8. 4 Kendal (ESP + FGD) Khutala 4. Olifants 15. 1 Kriel (ESP + FGD) Kriel 4. Olifants 11. 1 Arnot (FF) Arnot 4. Olifants 6. 0 Hendrina (FF) Optimum 4. Olifants 6. 5 Lethabo (ESP + FGD) New Vaal 8. Upper Vaal 17. 3 Majuba (FF) Various 8. Upper Vaal 10. 0 Tutuka (ESP) NDenmark 8. Upper Vaal 4. 9 Camden Mothballed 8. Upper Vaal - Grootvlei Mothballed 8. Upper Vaal - Komati Mothballed 4. Olifants - Slide 13 Total © CSIR 2006 www. csir. co. za 112. 3

Atmospheric Hg emissions from coal-fired power stations in relation to population density Slide 14 © CSIR 2006 www. csir. co. za

Cement Production, Milling and Blending Facilities in South Africa (adapted from DME, 2005). Cement Production Unit Owned by Water Management Area Slurry PPC Cement 3. Crocodile (West) and Marico Lichtenburg Lafarge SA 3. Crocodile (West) and Marico Dudfield Holcim 3. Crocodile (West) and Marico Dwaalboom PPC Cement 3. Crocodile (West) and Marico Hercules PPC Cement 4. Olifants Ulco Holcim 10. Lower Vaal Simuma Natal Portland Cement 11. Mvoti to Umzimkulu Port Elizabeth PPC Cement 15. Fish to Tsitsikamma De Hoek PPC Cement 19. Berg Riebeeck PPC Cement 19. Berg Slide 15 © CSIR 2006 www. csir. co. za

Current Research Olifants Croc (West) & Marico Upper Vaal Berg Slide 16 © CSIR 2006 www. csir. co. za

Research Needs ü Estimates of Hg Emissions from Coal Combustion: ðMeasured data of the Hg concentrations in coals combusted at each power plant; ðMeasured data on the influence of emission control devices on Hg reductions; ðMeasured data on the species composition of Hg emitted from power plants. ü Synthetic Fuel Production from Coal: ðResearch on the fate of Hg during the Fischer-Tropsch process (production of synthetic fuels) is required as it may be an important source of Hg to the environment. ðProcess is 2 nd largest “consumer” of coal in South Africa. ü Hg in Waste: ð Understand potential for Hg to enter general waste landfills; ð Characterise Hg in waste; ð Develop guidelines on Hg waste management & remediation. Slide 17 © CSIR 2006 www. csir. co. za

Use of Lichens as Hg Bio-Indicators • Foliose lichens: good matrix for airborne Hg absorb nutrients exclusively from air / rainwater and their metabolism is not linked to tree growth • Initial results in South Africa shows Hg levels to be ~200 ug/kg. Lichen harvested in remote areas in Slovenia ~100 ug/kg (Horvat, 2000). • Slide 18 © CSIR 2006 www. csir. co. za

Application of Monitoring Network • Current research can form a sound basis for the design, testing and application of new methods for monitoring and predicting the impacts of Hg air pollution on ecosystems and human health in South and southern Africa. • In turn, the outputs of this study can be used as a basis for developing effective Hg policies and advisories in South and southern Africa (to direct management actions that may affect human health). Slide 19 © CSIR 2006 www. csir. co. za