Miners inhale fumes from explosives used to loosen rocks, which also creates dust — both bad for the lungs. But it’s mercury, used to leach the precious ore out of sediment, that is the biggest culprit to damaging miners’ lungs.
Mercury is an especially dangerous poison that, after long exposure to the vapor, causes pulmonary fibrosis, lung disease and chronic respiratory problems. In Ghana, researchers consistently find mercury toxicity in the blood and urine of residents, as well as in soil, food, water and fish.
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