Scientists, reports SciDev Net, have asked President Dilma Rousseff to consider what they deem as more environmentally friendly alternatives, such as the use of cyanide, which they say is less harmful.
Under the new legislation, miners are allowed to use mercury if they obtain a permit and a document “attesting the origin of the mercury within 30 days of the issuance of environmental permits,” according to TerraAmerica.
The use of mercury in small-scale operations, labelled as 'artisanal' mining, in Brazil is controlled, but high. About 50 tons per year are used illegally in gold activities undergoing at the biologically rich Amazon region.
Two weeks ago, Brazil’s Environment and Sustainable Development, Nadia Ferreira, suggested that, with the appropriate environmental license, the use of mercury in gold mining should be allowed in the Amazon for at least another five years.
No comments:
Post a Comment