Skin lightening might not be a familiar topic to many Americans, but it is an intensely popular subject globally and in some U.S. communities of color: The hashtag #whiteningcream has over 40 million views on TikTok, and products that are promised to bleach or lighten skin tone are readily available both online and at drugstores. According to market research firm StrategyR, estimated global sales of skin lightening products will exceed $8 billion in 2022.
The overall goal of the UNEP Global Mercury Partnership is to protect human health and the environment from the releases of mercury.