Resources

This information sheet provides an overview of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Global Mercury Partnership for prospective partners.

Mercury-containing skin lightening products are hazardous to health and as a result have been banned in many countries. Even in some countries where such products have been banned, they are still advertised and available to consumers via the Internet and other means.

The Oscar award-winning actress' debut kids' book is about a young black girl who doesn’t think she's beautiful.

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The Minamata Convention on Mercury is a global treaty to protect human health and the environment from the adverse effects of mercury.

The Convention was adopted on 10 October 2013 at Kumamoto (Japan) on the occasion of the Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Minamata Convention on Mercury held from 7 to 11 October 2013 and entered into force on 16 August 2017. 

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This publication was developed to guide health ministries4 in planning measures to implement the health-related articles of the Minamata Convention and to protect public health from exposure to mercury. It will guide health ministries to plan not only obligatory measures under the Convention but voluntary measures as well.

Skin lightening creams & soaps have mercury in them. Mercury is dangerous and bad for people’s health. Mercury in open skin lightening products can also harm other people in the home or store.

Using skin-lightening products is not safe. Most skin-lightening products contain toxic chemicals including mercury. Many skin-lightening products tested in Minnesota and nationwide contained mercury levels that exceeded the current FDA threshold of 1 part per million (ppm).

In May 2019, at its fourteen meeting (COP14), the Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention decided to update the technical guidelines on mercury wastes Read more on the Basel Convention website

Stephanie Yeboah started using bleaching creams when she was 14. As part of a new series, Shades of black, she writes about believing her worth was linked to her skin tone and what happened when side-effects kicked in

UN Environment's Toolkit for identification and quantification of mercury releases is intended to assist countries to identify and quantify the sources of mercury releases. With the Toolkit, a comprehensive national mercury releases inventory can be developed.

What are Mercury-added Products? The Minamata Convention on Mercury defines a mercury-added product as a “product or product component that contains mercury or a mercury compound that was intentionally added.”

The toxic trade of often illegal mercury-added skin-lightening products is a global crisis expected to only worsen with skyrocketing demand, especially in Asia, the Middle East and Africa. Consistent with other research, a new Zero Mercury Working Group (ZMWG) study indicates that a significant percentage of skin-lightening creams sold worldwide contains dangerous levels of mercury.

Presentation given by Arturo Gavilan Garcia on Survey on Harmonized System Initiative of the Global Mercury Partnership given at the Global Mercury Partnership side event during the Second Conference of Parties (COP2) of the Minamata Convention

Presentation given by Peter Maxson on Custom Codes for Mercury added products given at the Global Mercury Partnership's side event during the Second Conference of Parties (COP 2) of the Minamata Convention. 

Research on skin whitening products carried out under component III of the UNEP project "Development of Minamata Initial Assessment (MIA)" in Pakistan. This report covers all the details of research work, undertaken on local as well as international brands of Skin Whitening Creams (SWCs) collected from the markets at main cities of Pakistan.

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This document outlines proposed revised customs codes for better data and better implementation of the Minamata Convention on Mercury

Mercury in dental amalgam is a hidden source of global mercury pollution, resulting from the illegal diversion of dental mercury into the artisanal and small-scale gold mining sector, to crematoria emissions from the deceased and sewage sludge that is sold to farmers.

Recent tests in the U.S. state of Minnesota show that some skin lightening products have dangerous levels of mercury. Being exposed to the mercury in these products could cause serious health problems. This factsheet provides basic information for the general public. More information available here.

The use of skin fairness products that frequently contain toxic ingredients is associated with significant adverse health side effects. Due to the high prevalence of use in Asian and African countries, skin fairness product use is recognized as a growing public health concern.

Background. Skin lightening is very popular among women and some men of the Caribbean, and its popularity appears to be growing. The lightening of skin colour is done to produce a lighter complexion which is believed to increase attractiveness, social standing and improves one’s potential of being successful.

This guide provides a simplified list of steps governments may take in preparing to undertake the Convention Article 4 obligations. It is intended to facilitate the implementation of the legal, institutional, and practical components of a mercury product phase out strategy, including those that may be performed as part of Minamata Initial Assessments (MIAs).

UN Environment Chemicals and Health Branch is developing and populating a databank on chemicals analyses, in particular on persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and mercury (Hg).

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