Analyzing Mercury in Skin Lightning Projects
Inorganic mercury is a common ingredient found in skin lightening products (SLPs). BRI’s Toxicology Lab analyzes SLPs for total mercury. The UN Global Environment Facility (GEF) funded project Eliminating Mercury Skin Lightening Products aims to reduce the risk of exposure to mercury-added SLPs in both humans and the environment through initiatives that address the main needs for the management of SLPs, which include (but are not limited to) national capacity building on legislation, enforcement, laboratory capabilities, and awareness raising strategies. For details and updates on project activities, please visit this site.

Regional Lab Capacity Building

Laboratory networks for mercury and other contaminant analyses in areas throughout the world, especially in mercury hotspots, provide important information for the assessment of risk—to humans, wildlife, and ecosystems—in localized and regional environments.

BRI, in coordination local government organizations and universities, will aid in the development of an integrated network of toxicology laboratories, which in turn will:

• Help facilitate countries with limited resources to be more efficient in evaluating the effectiveness of the Minamata Convention.
• Provide a way for countries to coordinate information about mercury in seafood for human and ecological health purposes, and to help build capacity within the region to make independent assessments.
• Help assist countries with sustainable economic activities related to seafood resources.
• Provide assistance to build capacity for relevant Ministries to protect human and ecological health. Learn more.

Biomonitoring Research Projects

BRI conducts biomonitoring research to better understand how environmental contaminants affect wildlife, human health, and ecosystems. Our biomonitoring projects encompass a broad range of research, including wildlife contaminant exposure, emerging pollutants such as PFAS, and biological indicators of health and environmental stress. Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) have been developed by BRI to reflect decades of experience in field sampling, wildlife monitoring, and environmental analytics. These documents provide a clear, step-by-step framework to ensure that all collected data and samples are consistent, high-quality, and suitable for long-term use in research, conservation, and policy-making. View all of our SOPs here.