Resources

This policy brief focuses on the findings of a recently completed study, carried out to investigate the health threats and challenges, due to use of Skin Whitening Creams (SWCs) in some selected main cities of Pakistan. In light of these findings, described and discussed in its following pages, this policy brief presents recommendations.

World Health Organization Fact sheet webpage on Mercury in health, including Key facts, Exposure to mercury, Health effects of mercury exposure, How to reduce human exposure from mercury sources, Mercury use in vaccines and pharmaceuticals, Political agreement and WHO Response.

The world’s nations adopted the Minamata Convention on Mercury to protect human health and the environment from mercury pollution. A good understanding of mercury supply, trade and demand is critical to effective implementation of the Convention.

This report presents a range of measures already taken by some countries in pursuit of their objectives to phase down or entirely eliminate the use of dental amalgam. It is intended that these examples may inspire and instruct other countries’ efforts to implement this provision of the Minamata Convention.

Country case study: Mercury added products: Country situation analysis in Bangladesh (Product inventory and emission source identification)

In the light of new developments and studies on dental amalgam a request was submitted by the Commission to update the SCENIHR opinion produced in 2008 on the safety and performance of both dental amalgam and possible alternatives, such as resin-based composites, glass ionomer cements, ceramics and gold alloys.

Country case study: Replacing mercury-added products and promoting improved management of mercury-added products waste in Madagascar 

[ English / Chinese / French / Russian / Spanish / Portuguese ]

Guidance from the World Health Organisation (WHO) on developing national strategies for phasing out mercury containing products used in the health industry.

Country case study: Promoting the ‘phase down’ Approach of Dental Amalgam in Developing Countries – Tanzania

[ English / Spanish ]

GLOBAL - Health Care Without Harm

Report of the implementation of the UNEP/WHO/government of Kenya east africa dental amalgam phase- down project

Country case study: East African Dental Amalgam phase down project (EADAP)-Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda -  Country report for project implementation activities in Uganda

Health Care Without Harm developed a script for the video based on the UNDP GEF Global Health Care Waste Project “Guidance Document on the Cleanup, Temporary or Intermediate Storage, and Transport of Mercury Waste from Healthcare Facilities”.

A report detailing the outcomes of the UNEP-WHO project on promoting the phase down of dental amalgam in developing countries.

Brochure with information on alternatives to mercury-added products

Cosmetic skin lightening is practiced worldwide. Mercury is a well-documented melanotoxin added to some lightening products. However, mercury can cause many dermatologic, renal, and neurologic problems. The Food and Drug Administration limits the amount of mercury in cosmetic products to trace amounts, 1 ppm.

Somali women often use creams and soaps to lighten skin tone, fade freckles or get rid of age spots. Use of these products raises a health concern, as some have been found to contain mercury. This article describes an investigation that involved interviewing Somali women about skin-lightening practices and the products they use and then testing those products for mercury.

A two days Training of Trainers (TOT) Workshop funded by World Dental Federation (FDI) was organized in collaboration with United Nations Environment program (UNEP), World Health Organization (WHO) and International Association of Dental Manufactures (IDM).

[ French ] Les Dangers de la Dépigmentation (France 2 en direct), Isabelle Mananga Ossey (Association Label Beauté Noire).

Socio-economic Analysis on Mercury Thermometer and Sphygmomanometer Transition towards Mercury Free Products in China

Hypothetical Transition Scenarios Analysis and Socio-economic Cost Estimation 

This report reviews the literature, describes the use of mercury in odontology, and raises issues of concern for human health.

This workbook will guide you through a systematic, hospital-wide approach for education, assessment, and improvement of mercury-containing products and the practices related to mercury in your institution. It is based on a model of continuous improvement so that the workbook is appropriate for healthcare institutions at all different levels of experience in their mercury reduction efforts. 

The main objective of this paper is to explore the pros and cons of two regulatory options in the context of a global commitment to gradually phase-out the use of mercury-added products.

This report provides information from case studies of two firms involved with transitioning from mercury-containing to mercury-free products in the medical technology industry.

The potential environmental damage, human toxicity and disposal costs of mercury have led to a growing demand for non-mercury-containing devices in health care. This guide will describe available altemafive no devices for thermometers and sphygmomanometers, and provide guidance on the selection of altemafive devices.