During the "13th Five-Year Plan" period, the discharge of key heavy metal pollutants in key industries has been well controlled, and the prevention and control of heavy metal pollution has achieved positive results. But at the same time, China's heavy metal environmental management is still relatively weak, the situation of unreasonable layout and low governance level of enterprises in key industries has not fundamentally changed, environmental incidents involving thallium and antimony still occur in some areas, and the problem of heavy metal pollution left over from history has become increasingly prominent, threatening Ecological environment safety and public health, the effect of heavy metal pollution control work is still unstable.
The Ministry of Ecology and Environment recently issued the "Opinions on Further Strengthening the Prevention and Control of Heavy Metal Pollution", proposing that by 2025, the discharge of key heavy metal pollutants in key industries across the country will be reduced by 5% compared with 2020, and the level of green development in key industries will be improved rapidly. The ability to further enhance, promote the treatment of a number of prominent historical heavy metal pollution problems. By 2035, establish and improve the heavy metal pollution prevention and control system and long-term mechanism, comprehensively improve the ability of heavy metal pollution control, environmental risk prevention and control, and environmental supervision, and comprehensively and effectively control the environmental risks of heavy metals.
The "Opinions" clarified that key heavy metal pollutants include lead, mercury, cadmium, chromium, arsenic, thallium and antimony. Key industries include heavy non-ferrous metal mining and dressing industry, heavy non-ferrous metal smelting industry, lead-acid battery manufacturing industry, electroplating industry, chemical raw material and chemical product manufacturing industry and other industries.
The person in charge of the Department of Solid Waste and Chemicals of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment said that it is necessary to strengthen the prevention and control of heavy metal pollution sources and reduce the use of high thallium ore raw materials. At the same time, strengthen monitoring and early warning, carry out investigation and treatment, and carry out thallium removal and upgrading of wastewater treatment facilities in typical thallium-related enterprises such as heavy non-ferrous metal smelting and steel. Jiangxi, Hunan and other key provinces should formulate thallium pollution prevention and control plans to strengthen comprehensive rectification of thallium-related enterprises.
