On March 26, 2019, Faculty of Environment, Thuyloi University held a seminar on "Mercury in aquatic ecosystems" with the speakers Mr. Gregory Martin Clark, Deputy Director of Water Science Center IDAHO, United State and Mr. Dale Fenn, Department of Science, Environment and Health, Unites State Embassy in Hanoi.
Seminar on "Mercury in aquatic ecosystems"
The seminar attracted the attention of lecturers and students from the Faculty of Environment. This is a good opportunity for students to learn and expand their specialized knowledge about new technologies and advanced solutions in the world and also improve their English communication skills.
Lecturers and students of Facutly of Environment attended the seminar
At the seminar, Mr. Gregory Martin Clark emphasized the harmful effects of mercury on the environment and human health by giving the example of the mercury dispersion first discovered in Minamata City, Kumamoto, Japan in 1956. The Chisso Chemical Company in Japan discharged methyl mercury into the public landfill from 1932 to 1968. In 1968, the Japanese government announced the Minamata disease was caused by the pollution.
Mr. Gregory Martin Clark presented about the harmful effects of mercury
According to the study of aquatic organisms in the ecosystem, a toxic chemical has high biologically accumulated in mollusks and fish. Water contaminated with mercury will be absorbed by organisms in the water such as seaweed, moss, fish, etc. When humans eat mercury-contaminated fish, they will also suffer from mercury poisoning, led to Minamata disease. "Minamata disease is identified as a heavy metal poisoning, mainly went into the human body through fish and mollusks."
The expert also showed that Asia is the region with the highest mercury emissions in the world, mainly due to small-scale manual gold mining activities and the use of fossil fuels. Speakers also pointed out the United States's solutions to reduce mercury emissions in five times during 25 years (1990 - 2016).
Questions and discussion between lectures, students and the speakers
Experts and lecturers, students of Environmental Faculty
The Faculty of Environment will continue to organize more international seminars related to the fields of environment to create more opportunities for students to approach more updated knowledge and the reality as well as motivate them to participate in all learning activities.
Public relation section - Faculty of Environment