News:

Eliminating Mercury Skin Lightening ProductsInorganic mercury is a common ingredient found in skin lightening products (SLPs). SLPs come in different forms, including creams and soaps. BRI is collaborating with the United Nations Environment Programme and the World Health Organization to help eliminate the use of all skin lightening products. Learn more here.

Announcing a Special Issue on Mercury: Global environmental mercury loads in biota and impacts on biodiversity
This special issue will strive to provide further understanding of the science needed for both the Minamata Convention On Mercury and the Convention on Biological Diversity. Learn more here.

Minamata Convention on Mercury (COP-5)
The fifth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention on Mercury (COP-5) took place in Geneva, Switzerland, from 30 October to 3 November 2023. Find more information on BRI’s contribution here.

BRI helps over 40 countries meet requirements for the Minamata Convention on Mercury through assisting with Minamata Initial Assessments and mercury inventories, reducing mercury use in artisanal and small-scale gold mining practices, and evaluating effectiveness through mercury biomonitoring.

• UN Environment Programme’s Mercury Air Transport and Fate Research partnership area
• MIA South Pacific Region

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BRI is working on several fronts to conduct mercury biomonitoring across the globe. Monitoring mercury exposure to humans and wildlife will help the global community to meet the requirements of the Convention. Click the links below for more information:

• Global Biotic Mercury Synthesis (GBMS)
• Mercury Monitoring in Biota
• Mercury Monitoring in Humans
• Regional Mercury Monitoring Networks
• Global Mercury Threat Assessment: Ecosystem Sensitivity and Risk Mapping

Artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) is the largest single source of mercury emissions in the world, representing nearly 40 percent of all global emissions. BRI works with the U.S. Department of State and international partners to identify techniques that will improve mining efficiency while also reducing the reliance on mercury to extract gold

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These synthesis projects bring together environmental and biotic mercury data from across North America to better understand spatial and temporal trends in mercury accumulation and deposition. Each regional synthesis has culminated in a series of scientific publications.

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Sampling broadly and annually throughout the landscape helps biologists identify “hotspots” of contaminant exposure, and helps us determine if contaminant levels are changing over time. Such information has proven pivotal in guiding policy decisions to regulate pollutants. Most BRI programs include a mercury component.

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BRI’s Toxicology Lab provides analysis of tissue samples for total mercury using a Nippon MA-3000 and lead using our LeadCare ® II analyzer. Tissues include feathers, fur, blood, muscle, and egg.

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BRI focuses on providing accurate and neutral science to help inform the development and implementation of policies related to reducing mercury exposure to humans and the environment.

•  The UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) was held in Montreal, December 7th-9th, 2022. Read more about BRI’s contribution here.

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