US pushes for global mercury regulating at UN meeting

A meeting held today in Nairobi among United Nations (UN) environment ministers has laid the foundations for countries around the globe to agree on curbing the effects of mercury pollution.

The representatives agreed to implement legally binding measures to reduce mercury pollution globally, with the US playing a prominent role in the procedures.

Nancy Sutley, chair of the White House council on environment policy, stated: "The United States will play a leading role in working with other nations to craft a global, legally binding agreement that will prevent the spread of mercury into the environment."

The agreements are to include limiting the use of mercury in the making of thermometers, dentistry practices and industrial procedures.

The US' involvement in the stricter regulating of mercury became apparent last week when the Obama administration expressed its intention to overturn a decision made by the previous Bush government not to introduce limits on mercury pollution.