The use of mercury dates as far as ancient time. However, it must be noted that its associated health hazard cannot be overemphasized. Mercury vapour, when inhaled, can affect the central nervous system and, depending on the levels of exposure, can impair cognition and in some cases cause death. Mercury is also harmful if absorbed through cuts and abrasions of the skin, and of even more concern in terms of public health is the toxicity produced when mercury emitted into the environment accumulates in lake, river, stream and ocean sediments. Here, anaerobic organisms digest and transform elemental mercury into methyl mercury, a more toxic form of mercury which accumulates and becomes concentrated up the food chain in plankton, fish, birds and mammals including humans. Methyl mercury is of special concern for foetuses, infants and children because extraordinarily low doses impair neurological development [WHO, 2015]

In addition to its natural source of emission, the impacts of anthropogenic emissions including exposure to elemental mercury in health care settings from spills or broken equipment, such as mercury-containing fever thermometers and sphygmomanometers (blood pressure devices), and from artisanal and small-scale gold mining, is of serious public health concern. However, this situation is entirely preventable through cautious choice and use of mercury-free alternatives. A number of governments representing low-, middle- and high-income countries have also instituted policies for phasing out such devices and practice of artisanal and small-scale gold mining in favor of accurate and affordable alternatives. By signing of the Minamata Convention on Mercury in Kumamoto, Japan in October 2013, governments made a commitment to protect human health from anthropogenic emissions and releases of mercury and mercury compounds.

The protection of human health is at the core of the Minamata Convention, whose objective (Article 1) ?is to protect the human health and the environment from anthropogenic emissions and releases of mercury and mercury compounds?. The Convention includes a range of measures to meet its objective, including controls on emissions and releases of mercury to the environment from industrial sources and the phasing out of the manufacture, import or export of certain products or product components that contain mercury or a mercury compound that was intentionally added (?mercury-added products?). Article 16 of the Convention specifically calls for the development and implementation of strategies and programmes to protect populations at risk from exposure to mercury and mercury compounds, including through the adoption of national guidelines and through health promotion and public education. This includes the development of required public health strategy element of national action plans to reduce the health impacts of mercury use in artisanal and small-scale gold mining (Article 7 and Annex C) as well as for assessing the risks to health of contaminated sites (Article 12). Article 18 (public information, awareness and education) particularly mentions human health, while Article 19 (Research, development and monitoring) calls for cooperation in assessing the impact of mercury and mercury compounds on vulnerable populations [WHO, 2015].

In keeping with Articles 1, 7, 12, 16 and 18 of the Minamata Convention, this project seeks to introduce and promote sustainable mercury ?free management techniques to artisanal and small scale gold miners and to foster plastic waste management strategies in the fifteen (15) counties of Liberia, where major artisanal and small-scale gold mining operations are being carried out. Specifically, the project will involve establishing scientific data on the levels of mercury from ASGM areas relative to WHO and EPA standards, strengthening organizational capacity of artisanal gold miners within selected areas, using source reduction technique to ensure safe and limited use of mercury within the project areas, developing strategic plan on management of mercury in artisanal and small scale gold mining communities, and using plastic wastes management strategies to develop technology for converting mixed plastic wastes to current electricity or high grade fuel oil.

The project will ensure community participation, good management of knowledge, gender sensitivity, communication and replication of project results, and project risks, monitoring and evaluation, and the sustainability of the project after its life span will depend largely on the organized groups from the various artisanal and small scale gold mining areas. The project will have a proposed duration of two (2) years and an estimated cost of $150,000.00 (one hundred and fifty thousand) United States dollars.