The world perspective on mercury pollution-Minamata Convention

Mercury and mercury compounds have long been known to be toxic to humans, other organisms and the environment. Considering that mercury bio accumulates in the environment, its adverse impacts on the environment were evident in countries like Japan causing the Minamata disease as well as the Niigata Minamata disease.
The negative impacts of mercury gave rise to the promulgation of the Minamata Convention on Mercury of October 2013. The convention is an international treaty designed to protect human health and the environment from anthropogenic emissions and releases of mercury and mercury compounds. The convention was a result of international action aimed at managing mercury in an efficient, effective and coherent manner, while member states work towards its total elimination.
http://www.ema.co.zw/index.php/97-concerns-on-mercury-pollution.html