An alarming report on the world-wide contamination of mercury is one of the topics to be addressed by the UN Environmental Programme (UNEP) conference that opened on Monday in the Kenyan capital Nairobi.
Approximately 800 environmental politicians and experts from more than 100 countries are meeting on the implementation of the goals established at the Sustainable Development summit held in Johannesburg.
Mercury contamination is far higher than previously known, according to deputy UNEP executive director Shafqat Kakakhel. ”It is estimated that one in 12 women in the US have mercury-levels that go far over the limit with 300 000 babies born
there at risk. Worldwide there are millions.”
Other topics at the conference, which ends on Friday, include the effects of conflicts on the environment, specifically the situation in Afghanistan as well as in the Palestinian areas occupied by Israel. – Sapa-DPA