International efforts to reduce mercury pollution are gaining momentum as governments, environmental organisations and mining communities work to eliminate dangerous products, strengthen controls on mercury trading and introduce safer gold extraction methods.

Mercury pollution remains a serious environmental and public health challenge, affecting people, wildlife and ecosystems across the world. Exposure to this toxic metal can damage the nervous system, impair brain development and harm the kidneys and other organs. Communities exposed to mercury through industrial pollution, contaminated food and unsafe mining practices can face long-term health consequences.

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is supporting international efforts to address this problem through the Minamata Convention on Mercury, a global environmental agreement designed to protect human health and the environment from the harmful effects of mercury.

The initiative focuses on reducing mercury use throughout its life cycle, from production and international trade to its application in industrial processes, consumer products and gold mining.

Although eliminating mercury pollution remains a complex undertaking, international cooperation is helping countries develop regulations, improve enforcement and introduce alternatives that reduce the risks to people and nature.

Understanding the Dangers of Mercury

Mercury is a naturally occurring element, but its release into the environment through human activities can create serious health and ecological risks.

The metal is particularly dangerous because it can persist in the environment and, in certain chemical forms, accumulate in living organisms.

When mercury enters rivers, lakes and oceans, microorganisms can convert some of it into methylmercury, a highly toxic compound that can accumulate in fish and other aquatic organisms.

As contaminated fish are consumed by larger animals and humans, mercury can move through the food chain. People who regularly consume fish containing elevated methylmercury levels may face increased health risks.

Exposure to elemental mercury vapour is another major concern. Workers who handle mercury without adequate protection can inhale toxic fumes, particularly when mercury is heated during gold processing.

Depending on the amount, chemical form, duration and route of exposure, mercury can affect the brain, nervous system, kidneys and other organs. Exposure during pregnancy is especially concerning because methylmercury can interfere with the development of a child’s brain and nervous system.

These risks make prevention, monitoring and the reduction of mercury releases important priorities for public health authorities.

The Minamata Convention: An International Response

The Minamata Convention on Mercury was adopted in 2013 and entered into force on 16 August 2017.

Named after Minamata, Japan, the agreement recognises the devastating consequences of mercury pollution. In the Japanese city, industrial wastewater contaminated with methylmercury caused severe neurological illness and other health problems among residents who consumed contaminated seafood.

The disaster became one of the world’s most significant examples of the human cost of industrial pollution.

The convention establishes international measures to control mercury supplies and trade, restrict certain mercury-added products, address manufacturing processes that use mercury and reduce emissions and releases into the environment.

It also addresses artisanal and small-scale gold mining, where mercury use remains a major source of global pollution.

Participating countries are expected to take measures consistent with the agreement, including implementing relevant controls, strengthening national institutions and developing strategies to reduce mercury exposure.

The convention provides a framework for countries to work together on a problem that frequently crosses national borders.

Phasing Out Mercury-Containing Products

One important part of the international campaign involves reducing the use of products that contain mercury.

Historically, mercury has been used in several consumer and industrial products, including certain measuring instruments, lamps, batteries, electrical switches and dental materials.

Alternatives are increasingly available for many applications, reducing the need to rely on mercury-containing technologies.

For example, digital thermometers can replace many traditional mercury thermometers, while alternative lighting technologies can reduce dependence on certain mercury-containing lamps.

The Minamata Convention establishes restrictions and phase-out requirements for specified mercury-added products, subject to the provisions and applicable exemptions in the agreement.

Governments can support this transition by updating product standards, informing consumers, improving market surveillance and ensuring that replacement technologies are available.

However, removing mercury from products is only part of the solution. Existing mercury-containing equipment must also be collected, handled and disposed of safely to prevent the toxic metal from entering landfills, waterways or the atmosphere.

Proper waste management is therefore essential to ensure that the benefits of product substitution are not undermined by unsafe disposal practices.

Controlling Mercury Trade and Preventing Illegal Supply

International trade is another important area of action.

Mercury can move across borders through legal commercial transactions as well as illegal supply chains. When mercury reaches markets where enforcement is weak, it may be used in activities that create serious health and environmental risks.

The Minamata Convention establishes controls on mercury imports and exports, including requirements related to consent and restrictions on certain sources and uses.

The agreement also addresses primary mercury mining and requires participating countries to take steps to manage supplies in accordance with its provisions.

Effective implementation requires cooperation between customs authorities, environmental agencies, law enforcement bodies and international organisations.

Authorities need reliable information about shipments, the origin of mercury and its intended destination. Without effective monitoring, illegal transactions can be difficult to identify.

Strengthening customs procedures, improving reporting systems and sharing information between countries can help reduce opportunities for unlawful trade.

However, controlling supply alone may not eliminate mercury use. Where demand remains high, illegal suppliers may continue to operate. Trade controls must therefore be accompanied by practical alternatives for industries and communities that currently depend on mercury.

Gold Mining Remains a Major Challenge

Artisanal and small-scale gold mining is one of the most significant sources of mercury pollution worldwide.

In many mining communities, workers use mercury because it binds to gold particles in crushed ore, allowing them to separate the precious metal from other materials.

The process can appear simple and inexpensive, particularly where miners lack access to advanced equipment or financial services.

After forming a gold-mercury amalgam, miners often heat the mixture to separate the gold. This can release mercury vapour into the surrounding air, exposing workers and nearby residents.

Mercury can also escape into soil and water through careless handling and the disposal of mining waste.

The consequences may extend beyond individual mining sites. Contamination can affect rivers, forests, agricultural land and wildlife, creating risks for communities that depend on local natural resources.

According to UNEP, artisanal and small-scale gold mining is a major contributor to global mercury pollution. The sector also supports the livelihoods of millions of people, making a transition to safer practices an important economic as well as environmental challenge.

Efforts to reduce mercury use must therefore account for the financial realities of small-scale miners.

Introducing Safer Gold Extraction Technologies

The UNEP-led planetGOLD programme is helping participating countries reduce mercury use in artisanal and small-scale gold mining.

Supported by the Global Environment Facility, the programme works with governments, mining communities, financial institutions and other partners to promote safer processing methods.

Depending on the characteristics of the ore, alternatives can include improved gravity concentration, suitable milling and separation equipment, and other processing methods that recover gold without mercury.

These technologies can reduce occupational exposure and limit the release of toxic material into the environment.

Training is equally important. Miners need to understand how to operate equipment correctly, improve gold recovery and manage waste safely.

In some locations, technical support has helped communities adopt processing systems that avoid mercury while maintaining commercially useful gold recovery.

The programme also works to improve miners’ access to finance, because equipment purchases and changes in production methods can require substantial initial investment.

Without affordable financing, miners may continue using familiar techniques even when safer alternatives are available.

Financial Inclusion Can Accelerate the Transition

Access to finance is a major barrier for many small-scale mining businesses.

Informal operators may lack recognised business records, collateral or access to conventional bank loans. As a result, they can struggle to purchase equipment needed to improve safety and reduce mercury use.

The planetGOLD programme has supported initiatives designed to address these constraints.

In some communities, savings groups and other local financial arrangements have helped miners and their families build financial resources, invest in equipment and develop additional sources of income.

Such initiatives can be especially important for women involved in mining-related activities and local businesses.

Financial inclusion can also support the formalisation of mining operations, helping communities gain access to technical assistance, legal markets and improved working conditions.

The long-term objective is not simply to discourage mercury use but to make safer production methods economically practical.

Protecting Workers, Families and Local Communities

Mercury pollution does not stop at the boundary of a mine or factory.

Workers may carry contaminated dust or residues into their homes, while mercury released into the environment can affect people who have no direct involvement in mining.

Children and pregnant women are particularly vulnerable to certain forms of mercury exposure.

Reducing pollution at its source is therefore more effective than relying exclusively on medical treatment after exposure has occurred.

Measures can include eliminating unsafe processing practices, improving workplace ventilation, using appropriate protective equipment where necessary, monitoring environmental contamination and providing public health information.

Communities can also benefit from better access to information about contaminated fish, safe handling procedures and the risks associated with mercury vapour.

Environmental monitoring and health surveillance can help authorities identify areas requiring additional intervention.

These measures are most effective when developed with the participation of affected communities and supported by adequate funding.

Environmental Benefits Extend Beyond Human Health

Reducing mercury releases can also protect biodiversity and improve the condition of ecosystems.

Mercury contamination can affect aquatic organisms, birds and mammals, particularly species that consume contaminated prey.

Because methylmercury can accumulate through food webs, predators at higher levels may experience elevated concentrations.

Pollution can therefore create ecological effects that extend far beyond the location where mercury was originally released.

Reducing emissions and releases can limit additional contamination and help protect vulnerable habitats.

However, mercury already present in soils, sediments and ecosystems may remain for long periods. Environmental recovery can take time, and contaminated sites may require monitoring or specialised remediation.

This makes prevention especially important.

By reducing mercury use in mining, restricting dangerous products and controlling supply chains, international initiatives can help prevent future contamination while supporting broader environmental protection goals.

Challenges That Still Need Attention

Despite progress under the Minamata Convention, eliminating mercury pollution remains difficult.

In some countries, enforcement capacity is limited, and informal mining operations are spread across remote areas that are difficult to monitor.

Alternative technologies may be too expensive for individual miners, while a lack of training can discourage adoption.

Illegal trade can also undermine restrictions when mercury remains profitable or readily available through unofficial channels.

Another challenge is ensuring that mercury-free products and mining methods are affordable and accessible to communities with limited resources.

Governments must therefore combine regulation with technical support, financing, education and realistic transition plans.

International cooperation is important because mercury pollution can cross borders through atmospheric transport, rivers, trade and contaminated food.

Continued collaboration among governments, environmental organisations, scientists, industry and local communities will be essential to achieving lasting reductions.

The Road Ahead for a Mercury-Free Future

The global campaign against mercury pollution represents a long-term effort to protect human health while supporting more sustainable industrial and economic practices.

The Minamata Convention provides an international framework for restricting mercury use, managing trade, reducing emissions and encouraging safer alternatives.

Through initiatives such as planetGOLD, mining communities are receiving technical assistance and financial support to move away from practices that expose workers and the environment to toxic mercury.

Progress will depend on whether these alternatives can be adopted at scale and whether national authorities can enforce existing rules effectively.

Governments will also need to improve waste management, strengthen environmental monitoring and ensure that vulnerable communities have access to reliable health information.

Ultimately, reducing mercury pollution requires action throughout the supply chain, from preventing unsafe use to managing products and waste responsibly.

The transition will take time, but expanding access to safer technologies and stronger international cooperation can help reduce exposure, protect ecosystems and create healthier conditions for future generations.