A United Nations treaty focused on lowering mercury pollution has been adopted by over 140 countries around the world, with some beginning the process of signing it.
A United Nations treaty focused on lowering mercury pollution has been adopted by over 140 countries around the world, with some beginning the process of signing it.
The treaty is called the Minamata Convention after the Japanese city that suffered from devastating mercury poisoning back in the 1950s.
Data collected by the UN revealed that the level of mercury emissions in several developing countries was reportedly on the rise mostly due to pollution from small mining operations, and burning coal.
Southeast Asian countries, where laws and regulations are struggling to keep up with the rate of industrialization, are responsible for nearly half of the yearly mercury emissions in the world.
Juliane Kippenberg, senior researcher from the Human Rights Watch said: “Millions of people around the world are exposed to the toxic effect of mercury. This treaty will help protect both the environment and people's right to health.”
Mercury that has been released into the atmosphere then circulates through the air, water, and soil, and can end up in the bodies of living organisms.
According to the World Health Organization, exposure to mercury inhalation can cause a number of different health problems and can be fatal in some cases.
