Activities of NIMD

NIMD Forum

Every year, we organize the "NIMD Forum" to deliver to a broad audience information on the research and other achievements made by the National Institute for Minamata Disease, and also as a venue for networking and socialization among mercury researchers from Japan and abroad. Featuring invited Japanese as well as non-Japanese experts on themes related to mercury or Minamata disease, the NIMD Forum is as a general rule held alternatively in Japan and elsewhere.

Report of the NIMD Forum 2024

Theme:
Strengthening Research Capacity on Mercury in Low and Middle-Income Countries with a Focus on Vulnerable Populations
Date:
21 July 2024
Venue:
Cape Town International Convention Center, South Africa
The theme of this year's NIMD Forum focused on strengthening research capacity on mercury in low- and middle-income countries, with particular emphasis on vulnerable populations. The forum was held on July 21, 2024, at the Cape Town International Convention Center, on the day before the International Conference on Mercury.
The forum aimed to deepen the understanding of mercury exposure in low- and middle-income countries. These regions face significant challenges due to activities such as artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM), the use of mercury-containing products, e-waste recycling, and diets high in mercury-contaminated fish. To address these challenges, the forum featured various presentations and discussions that shared the latest research and practical solutions.
Foundational Knowledge and Methodologies:
Dr. Fujimura and Dr. Chacriya Malasuk discussed procedures for requesting mercury analysis and designing effective surveys.
Practical and Affordable Mercury Analyzers:
Dr. Alvin and Dr. Yamamoto introduced practical and affordable mercury analyzers, along with simple methods to make mercury analysis more accessible.
Collaboration and Management:
Dr. Haraguchi discussed the impact of analytical quality on the timely detection of significant changes in mercury exposure. Dr. Saito assessed national mercury flows and explained strategies for sustainable management.
Case Studies:
Dr. Abbas shared findings from the Maldives, focusing on mercury exposure in small island and coastal communities.　Dr. Bupendora discussed the environmental and health impacts of traditional gold plating practices in Kathmandu and efforts to introduce safer technologies.　Dr. Oliveira highlighted the dangers of gold mining and high-mercury diets affecting indigenous communities in the Amazon.　Dr. Anetor explained the situation of ASGM in Nigeria.　Dr. Parvez talked about the health risks faced by e-waste recyclers in Bangladesh.

These presentations deepened the discussion on sustainable methods and challenges in mercury monitoring in low- and middle-income countries. They promoted technical cooperation and knowledge exchange with our center for the effectiveness evaluation of the Minamata Convention, and opened potential avenues for future collaborative research.

For more information on the presentations and other details, please see the abstract book below.

→ Abstract book

Past NIMD forums