Uruguay compartió su experiencia en la eliminación gradual de la amalgama dental con otros países de América Latina durante un taller regional organizado en el marco del proyecto sobre amalgama dental del Fondo para el Medio Ambiente Mundial (GEF).

Uruguay shared its experience in phasing out dental amalgam with other Latin American countries in a regional workshop under the GEF dental amalgam project.

Montevideo, 4 de marzo de 2026. Autoridades de los ministerios de Salud Pública y Ambiente, organismos internacionales y delegaciones de varios países de la región participan en Montevideo en el Taller Regional para la reducción progresiva del uso de amalgama dental, un espacio de intercambio técnico orientado a fortalecer la cooperación regional y acelerar la implementación del Convenio de Minamata sobre el Mercurio.

La ministra de Salud Pública, Cristina Lustemberg, presidió un taller regional de la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) sobre la reducción progresiva del uso de amalgamas dentales y anunció la próxima firma de una ordenanza que prohibirá que se utilicen en el país. Read the original post fron Uruguay Government

Kingston, Jamaica, 23 July 2025 (PAHO/WHO) – The Ministry of Health and Wellness (MOHW), in collaboration with the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO), has taken an important step in addressing the harmful effects of mercury in skin lightening products (SLPs). Through two targeted workshops, healthcare workers (HCWs) from across Jamaica were trained to identify and communicate the dangers associated with mercury-containing SLPs, in support of national and global public health goals.

At its 69th Council Meeting, the Global Environment Facility (GEF) approved a new work program that includes three major mercury-related projects across Africa, Asia and Latin America.

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is implementing a Japan-funded project called “Project for promoting the Minamata Convention on Mercury by making the most of Japan's knowledge and experiences” to support its member states for the implementation of the Convention. The project has a special focus on the area of information exchange, awareness and education, research, development, and monitoring. 

Kingston, Jamaica, 05 May 2025 (PAHO): The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MOHW), hosted a workshop on April 30 to educate healthcare workers on the dangers of mercury in skin lightening products (SLPs). The session formed part of the Global Environment Facility (GEF)-funded project “Eliminating Mercury in SLPs,” implemented by WHO and the Biodiversity Research Institute in partnership with the Governments of Gabon, Jamaica, and Sri Lanka.

Mexico has been making significant efforts to stop the industrial use of mercury in line with its obligations under the Minamata Convention. CYDSA, a Mexican chemical conglomerate, replaced the chlorine and caustic soda plant in Monterrey with a state-of-art mercury-free plant from 2013 to 2016. To convert the last remaining mercury-cell plant in Coatzacoalcos, the Global Environment Facility (GEF) approved a 12 million dollar project.

COOGAVEPE technology center in Peixoto de Azevedo, Brazil, October 2023.

As the sun rises across Mexico’s Sierra Gorda nature reserve, a golden light illuminates its nearly 400,000 hectares of mountains, gorges and valleys. Set amid this vast wilderness is the Bucareli mercury mine. Just after dawn, a metal door to the mine opens. The morning’s silence is broken by the dull sound of a generator and workers traipsing to their posts. Among them is Jose Vigil, one of 800 people in the region who mine mercury, a highly toxic substance. But for Vigil and the other miners, the clock is ticking.

Artisanal mining is a common activity in various regions of Brazil, but despite its economic benefits it also faces significant challenges that expose workers to multiple risks, including the use of mercury in mineral extraction. These challenges are especially pronounced for Brazilian women, who often face gender discrimination, poor working conditions, and health risks.