Laboratory networks for mercury and other contaminant analyses in regional hubs throughout the world, especially in mercury hotspots, will provide important information for the assessment of risk, both to humans and wildlife, in these environments.

BRI’s extensive mercury work in the Caribbean Region has led the way for the first network of integrated laboratories to be established. The primary toxicology laboratory will be located in Antigua and Barbuda, with secondary laboratories in other Caribbean countries. These labs will serve as the regional hubs for mercury analyses of abiotic and biotic samples that are used for assessing human and environmental health

Download the Caribbean Region Mercury Monitoring Network report here.

Under the Minamata Convention, individual countries are charged with protecting human health and the environment from the risks of mercury exposure by systematically controlling mercury emissions and releases, including phasing out the use of mercury in certain products and processes.

In order to assist with preparations for the ratification and implementation of the Convention, Belize is conducting mercury monitoring in collaboration with BRI.

New Report: Assessing contemporary methylmercury exposure to resident and migratory bird species of Belize

Click here to download the Mercury Monitoring brochure.

Click here to download the Ecosystem Sensitivity Mapping brochure.

• Population: 366,954 (World Bank 2016)
• Surface Area: 22,966 sq km (UN Data 2014)
• Capital City: Belmopan
• Official Language: English
• Fish Production: 97,523 tonnes (FAO 2015)
• UN Membership Date: September 25, 1981

The Minamata Initial Assessment Inception Meeting and Inventory Training Workshop were held in Belize on January 23, 2019. There, participants, which included representatives from several key stakeholders, were familiarized with the Minamata Convention on Mercury and the Minamata Initial Assessment (MIA) and organized meetings and site visits with consultants to facilitate data collection.