Resources

During the Sixth Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention on Mercury in November 2025, UNEP outreach events under the theme “Detoxifying Cosmetics and Beauty Ideals – Where Policy Meets Art” brought together artists, filmmakers, and voices from the cosmetics sector to explore the issue through creative and policy perspectives. This video captures behind‑the‑scenes moments.

Skin lightening cosmetics containing mercury hurt you and the planet. Want to know more? Watch the full video here:    The color of beauty   Check the settings to select your preferred language.

“I Want To Shine”  (Official Music Video | Dr. Ajith Kannangara) is more than a song. It’s a reflection of a reality many don’t talk about — the pressure, the illusion, and the truth behind beauty.

In Uganda, women miners partnering with the planetGOLD project are demonstrating how inclusive leadership, formalization initiatives and responsible gold mining practices can strengthen livelihoods while protecting local communities and the environment for generations to come.

A major barrier to the transition away from mercury use in artisanal and small-scale gold mining is the typical lack of formalization in the sector. The planetGOLD programme is piloting innovative and holistic approaches to formalization, such as Jurisdictional and Landscape Approaches.

The number of artisanal and small-scale gold miners in Côte d'Ivoire has steadily grown for the past two decades. Although mercury use is common in these operations and many face barriers to operating formally, the planetGOLD project is working to help overcome these challenges and bring artisanal miners into the formal economy.

The first annual skin-lightening cream stakeholder meeting was held on Dec. 10, 2025. Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) staff, along with business and community stakeholders, shared updates and engaged in a rich discussion about ways to protect human health and the environment from contaminated skin-lightening creams. Watch the video.

Fairness at a Cost is a powerful documentary that explores the growing obsession with lighter skin tones and the widespread use of skin-lightening products—many of which contain dangerous substances like mercury, hydroquinone, and steroids.

The GEF-funded planetGOLD programme works in partnership with governments, the private sector, and artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) communities with the objective of eliminating mercury from the supply chain of gold produced by ASGM. Watch the video to learn more.

Mercury found in some beauty products can enter the bloodstream, the brain and breastmilk.

This video and article from CNN explains it all and presents findings from a new report analysing cosmetics in USA and Canada.

Dr Ruediger Krech highlights the urgent public health concerns posed by mercury exposure, especially to vulnerable populations such as pregnant women and children. He outlines WHO’s role in supporting countries through policy guidance, awareness campaigns, and implementation of the Minamata Convention health articles.

Danger doesn't always look dangerous. Sometimes it is hiding in fish, in face cream, even in the air. Mercury. For thousands of years, humans have put mercury to work. Ancient alchemy, rituals, gold mining, batteries. It travels through the air and water. It lingers. it turns into methylmercury, slips into the food chain and into us. But this is not a horror story. This is a comeback story.

In this short video, the National Poisons Information Centre of Sri Lanka is raising awareness about hidden toxic risks in skin-lightening products.

The video was released on youtube during the Poisoning Prevention week organised on 11-17 August 2025. 

The Uganda National Association of Community and Occupational Health (UNACOH), with support from the European Environmental Bureau (EEB) and the Zero Mercury Working Group (ZMWG), is training miners in mercury-free gold extraction using gravity concentration technology.

[ French ] Plateau Spécial sur l'Atelier Régional qui s'est tenue à Libreville du 20 au 22 janvier 2025. Interview du Ministre de la santé, de plusieurs experts et de Miss Ebène.

This educational video was created by youth leaders involved in Beautywell’s Young Women’s Wellness and Leadership Initiative, the Youth Advisory Board, and young women leading community initiatives. The video's purpose is to mobilize youth and raise awareness about colorism, skin-lightening practices, and chemical exposures within the youth population.

[ French / English ] CNN explique comment les niveaux élevés de mercure présents dans certaines crèmes éclaircissantes pour la peau peuvent affecter la santé des personnes qui les utilisent ainsi que contaminer l'environment de leur maison.

The Global Mercury Partnership organised a webinar on 21 March 2024.The non-ferrous sector is a large anthropogenic source of mercury emissions estimated to account for more than 300 tonnes per year - around 10-15 percent - of global mercury emissions to the atmosphere, the third largest source.

[ French ] Les amalgames dentaires communément appelés plombage contiennent du mercure, un composé très toxique pour les hommes et pour l'environnement. Les organismes au niveau global (OMS et le Fonds pour l'environnement UN Environment Program) préconisent sa réduction voire son élimination. Découvrez pourquoi à travers cette vidéo.

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The Global Mercury Partnership and its two areas of work on mercury in products and waste management, in cooperation with the World Health Organization, organized an online webinar on 18 December 2023.

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