United Nations Environment Program (Nairobi)

Africa: UNEP Studies Show Rising Mercury Emissions in Developing Countries

10 January 2013

press release

Nairobi/Geneva — Most Comprehensive Assessment Ever of Global Emissions Released Ahead of Final Negotiations on New Mercury Treaty - Binding Treaty Can Deliver Major Health and Environmental Benefits in Developing and Developed Countries.

Communities in developing countries are facing increasing health and environmental risks linked to exposure to mercury, according to new studies by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

Parts of Africa, Asia and South America could see increasing emissions of mercury into the environment, due mainly to the use of the toxic element in small-scale gold mining, and through the burning of coal for electricity generation.

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