This report builds upon the previous work of the Zero Mercury Working Group (ZMWG) in exposing the toxic trade in skin lightening products (SLPs) laced with mercury. SLPs are sold globally via online platforms and, in this particular case, the focus is on illegal SLP sales by Amazon.com in the United States. As co-lead of the ZMWG, the Mercury Policy Project (MPP) has led investigations into a wide range of SLP issues including their composition, manufacture, adulteration, distribution and marketing, as well as a variety of efforts to raise awareness and protect consumers from toxic SLPs.
The overall goal of the UNEP Global Mercury Partnership is to protect human health and the environment from the releases of mercury.