Report of NIMDForum2010

Forum 2010

Date: Wednesday,3 February,2010: Study visit
    Thursday,4 February〜Friday,5 February: Forum 2010
Venue: Minamata Disease Archives, National Institute for Minamata Disease
Main Theme: Environmental cycling of methylmercury in aquatic systems

The NIMD forum has been implemented by National Institute for Minamata Disease according to invite researchers who are experts of mercury investigation every year. In this NIMD forum 2010, researchers introduce as for the latest results of mercury investigation on methylmercury cycling in aquatic systems till now, then these results were reported in Japanese mass communication. Also, to obtain better understanding as for each presentation in this forum, we utilized a simultaneously translation system as well as the last time. As a result, more than 100 persons participated to our forum. Thank very much for participants and lecturers in this forum. In addition, a study visit program that was made for knowing on Minamata gained popularity from foreign researchers.


Programme details
Study visit: Wednesday,3 February 2010 11:40-16:00
11:40-12:40 Izumi city Crane Observation Center:Visit and Lunch
13:30-14:30 Chisso Corporation:Visit
14:30-16:00 Ground related to Minamata disease

NIMD Forum2010
Thursday,4 February 2010 9:30-16:10
On Mercury Diffusion from Artisanal Gold Mining:A Case Study from Talawaan Watershed,North Sulawesi,Indonesia/ Dr. Markus.T.Lasut (Samratulangi University,Indonesia)
Distribution of mercury and methylmercury in sediment,freshwater fish and human blood in South Korea/Dr.Young-Hee Kim(National Institute of Environment,Korea)
Investigation of human and environmental exposure to mercury in the upper part of Maroni River,French Guiana, from 2004 to 2009/PE.Jean-Pierre Havard (Solidarite Guyane,France)
Spatial variations of mercury in sediment and speciation of mercury in bottom water in Minamata Bay,Japan/Dr.Takashi Tomiyasu (Kagoshima University,Japan)
Seasonal variation of mercury concentration and seawater quality in Minamata Bay/ Dr.Akito Matsuyama (NIMD)
Field observations on mercury behaviors and water quality dynamics in Minamata Bay/ Dr.Akihide Tada (Nagasaki University,Japan)
Wet deposition fluxes of total and methylmercury into Minamata Bay/Mr.Kohji Marumoto (NIMD)
Friday,5 February 2010 9:00-12:45
Sources and transport of mercury and methylmercury in rivers and streams of the Upper Mississippi River watershed/Dr.Steven J.Balogh (Metropolitan Council Environmental Services,USA)
On mercury dynamics in the aquatic environment of the Idrija mercury mine region, Slovenia/Dr. David Kocman (Josef Stefan Institute,Slovenia)
On development of a numerical model for understanding mercury behaviors in Minamata Bay/Dr.Shinichiro Yano (Kyusyu University,Japan)
On the mercury distribution at the intertidal zone of Minamata Bay/Dr.Yoshiaki Yasuda(NIMD)
Total Discussion/Dr.Steven J.Balogh (Metropolitan Council Environmental Services,USA)














Proceedings
NIMD Forum 1st day
Thursday,4 February 2010

9:30 - 9:40 Opening Remarks
Dr. Koji Okamoto (NIMD)

Session A “Impact of environmental mercury pollution”
Chairperson:Dr.David Kocman,Dr..Akihide Tada

9:40 - 10:20 On Mercury Diffusion from Artisanal Gold Mining:A Case Study from Talawaan Watershed,North Sulawesi,Indonesia
Dr. Markus.T.Lasut (Samratulangi University,Indonesia)
10:20 - 10:40 Break
10:40 - 11:20 Distribution of mercury and methylmercury in sediment,freshwater fish and human blood in South Korea
Dr.Young-Hee Kim(National Institute of Environment,Korea)
11:20 - 12:00 Investigation of human and environmental exposure to mercury in the upper part of Maroni River,French Guiana, from 2004 to 2009
Dr.Jean-Pierre Havard (Solidarite Guyane,France)
12:00 - 13:10 Lunch

Session B “Chemical modification of mercury in environment"
Dr.Jean-Pierre Havard,Dr.Shinichiro Yano

13:10 - 13:50 Spatial variations of mercury in sediment and speciation of mercury in bottom water in Minamata Bay,Japan
Dr.Takashi Tomiyasu (Kagoshima University,Japan)
13:50 - 14:10 Break
14:10 - 14:50 Seasonal variation of mercury concentration and seawater quality in Minamata Bay
Dr.Akito Matsuyama (NIMD)
14:50 - 15:30 Field observations on mercury behaviors and water quality dynamics in Minamata Bay
Dr.Akihide Tada (Nagasaki University,Japan)
15:30 - 16:10 Wet deposition fluxes of total and methylmercury into Minamata Bay
Mr.Kohji Marumoto (NIMD)
18:00 - 19:30 Welcome Reception

Proceedings
NIMD Forum 2nd day
Friday,5 February 2010


Session C “Mercury cycling in environment”
Chairperson:Dr.Markus.T.Lasut, Dr.Takashi Tomiyasu

9:00 - 9:40 Sources and transport of mercury and methylmercury in rivers and streams of the Upper Mississippi River watershed
Dr.Steven J.Balogh (Metropolitan Council Environmental Services,USA)
9:40 - 10:20 On mercury dynamics in the aquatic environment of the Idrija mercury mine region ,Slovenia
Dr. David Kocman (Josef Stefan Institute,Slovenia)
10:20 - 10:40 Break
10:40 - 11:20 On development of a numerical model for understanding mercury behaviours in Minamata Bay
Dr.Shinichiro Yano (Kyusyu University,Japan)
11:20 - 12:00 On the mercury distribution at the intertidal zone of Minamata Bay
Dr.Yoshiaki Yasuda(NIMD)
12:00 - 12:15 Total Discussion
Dr.Steven J.Balogh (Metropolitan Council Environmental Services,USA)
12:15 - 12:20 Closing remark
Dr.Yoshiaki Yasuda(NIMD)
12:20 - 12:25 Announcements for the next NIMD Forum
Dr.Fusako Usuki(NIMD)