Mercury In Skincare Products Under Lens At IIT H Confab
The six day conference, hosted in India for the first time in its 36 year history: Reports
HYDERABAD: Mercury in skincare products came under scrutiny at a special session organised by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) during the 17th International Conference on Mercury as a Global Pollutant (ICMGP 2026), which concluded recently at the Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad.
The six‑day conference, hosted in India for the first time in its 36‑year history, brought together scientists, policymakers, environmental specialists and representatives of international organisations from 26 countries to discuss mercury pollution and its impact on health and the environment.
Sessions covered mercury in air, water, soil and humans, alongside environmental monitoring, toxicology, aquatic ecosystems and pollution management. A special discussion examined mercury use in traditional formulations, with perspectives from India and abroad.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) participated officially for the first time. Dr Elena Jardan led a plenary on mercury and human health, addressing exposure assessment, biomonitoring, diagnosis, prevention, treatment and the role of public health systems in reducing risks.
The conference also reviewed implementation of the Minamata Convention on Mercury, the global agreement to protect health and the environment. Monika Stankiewicz, executive secretary of the Convention, outlined scientific priorities for the next decade, while Eisaku Toda moderated a plenary on progress and gaps in translating research into action.
A session featuring Japanese Minamata disease patient and storyteller Masami Ogata highlighted the lasting social consequences of industrial mercury contamination. Ogata shared his personal experience of the disease, which devastated communities in Japan.
Researchers from South Africa, Brazil, Russia, China, Argentina and other countries presented work on atmospheric mercury measurements, emissions inventories, long‑term monitoring and research infrastructure, particularly in developing economies.
Scientific contributions were recognised through awards: Mae Gustin received the Lifetime Achievement Award for atmospheric mercury research, Qingru Wu was named Emerging Researcher, 24 students were honoured at the inaugural ceremony, and 11 researchers received poster awards at the closing session.
Jointly chaired by IIT Hyderabad’s Prof. Asif Qureshi and University of Bristol’s Dr Jagannath Biswakarma, the conference was coordinated in India through the Society of Climate, Environment and Sustainability. The next edition will be held in Toledo, Spain, in 2028.