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ILO: Exposure to Mercury in the world of work - A review of the evidence and key priority actions (2022)

Description:

Occupational mercury exposures present a significant threat to the health of workers in a variety of industries around the world. Workers in artisanal and small-scale gold mining are particularly at risk, however numerous other sectors have been identified as areas of concern, including vinyl chloride monomer production, manufacturing, healthcare, waste-picking and recycling. While exact figures are lacking, it is estimated that millions of workers around the world continue to be exposed and to suffer from the serious health impacts of this toxic heavy metal.

The ILO has long recognized the occupational risks posed by mercury exposure, and in fact, mercury poisoning was recognized as one of the very first occupational diseases, listed in the ILO list of occupational diseases already in 1925. Since then, the ILO has developed and promoted numerous International Labour Standards relevant to occupational safety and health, chemical hazards and mining. This report was undertaken in order to provide a sound evidence base for mercury as a world of work concern. It aims to provide governments and policy makers, as well as social partners, with an educational and planning tool, to assist with the following actions:

  • Identify the types of industries and sectors where workers may be exposed in their regions and the populations at risk.
  • Understand the potential scale of the problem in terms of occupational health impacts.
  • Implement key priority actions at both national and workplace levels to better protect exposed workers.

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