Additionally, 81 per cent of these children suffer brutal injuries, and 93 per cent are exposed to poisonous mercury every day. Girls face even greater risks, with 45 per cent reporting sexual exploitation and exposure to sexually transmitted diseases.
read more... https://ghanaiantimes.com.gh/enforce-child-protection-laws-to-save-lives-of-children-in-mining-cnities-cri/
A new exposé by Child Rights International (CRI) reveals that children, as young as five, are forced into deadly pits, inhaling mercury fumes, suffering broken bones, and losing their future all for a few grams of gold.
read more... https://dailyguidenetwork.com/poisoned-crippled-ghanas-kids-pay-price-for-galamsey/
According to Oxfam, the river water is no longer fit to drink, at least 50 people have died from "mysterious" sicknesses, fish have disappeared from some places, mine workers are intimidated from joining trade unions, and effluent polluted with mercury, arsenic and other toxins is dumped in the river to save on treatment costs.
read more... https://iol.co.za/technology/2004-09-24-papua-new-guineas-pollution-whos-to-blame/
Unregulated gold mining in eastern Shan State raises concerns about the risk of cyanide contamination in key transboundary rivers near the Thai–Myanmar border, including the Mekong.
read more... https://www.mekongeye.com/2025/04/28/a-toxic-silence
This has created cause for concern among some environmental activists in the area. Many have pointed to the use of mercury in illegal mining operations as a key factor in the recent destruction of many of the country's natural resources.
read more... https://www.thecooldown.com/outdoors/illegal-mining-ghana-seven-men-arrested/
Despite the country’s approval of the Minamata Convention on Mercury in 2016, enforcement has been delayed. Bockarie Pompay Sesay, Public Health and Environmental Adviser for WHO-Sierra Leone, stated that mercury pollution is a global concern and advocated for stricter implementation of the treaty’s terms, such as the elimination of mercury use in artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM).
read more... https://sierraloaded.sl/news/mercury-poisoning-risk-mining-communities/
We’re embarking on a protest to save our water bodies and to free our citizens. Most of them have been detained unlawfully," said Joshua Buernortey Boye-Doe, one of the organisers.
“Illegal gold mining in the Amazon remains one of the main drivers of deforestation, mercury contamination, loss of biodiversity, and social disruption, impacting rural and urban populations, quilombola communities, and, above all, indigenous communities.
read more... https://revistacenarium.com.br/en/inspection-operations-in-brazil-displace-illegal-mining-in-indigenous-territories/
The use of mercury in gold extraction poses significant risks to both human health and the environment, as it can contaminate water sources and accumulate in the food chain, posing long-term health risks to communities living near mining sites.
read more... https://www.toetoheartworld.com/burkinafaso
The Ghanaian government must fully implement its National Action Plan under the Minamata Convention, phasing out mercury use through the promotion of alternative mining technologies and implementation of stricter regulations on mercury imports.
However, other sources, such as small-scale gold mining, continue to introduce mercury into the environment.
read more... https://www.msn.com/en-ie/news/techandscience/mercury-pollution-threat-uncovered-in-antarctica-s-wildlife/ar-AA1Du7LG
“Without the support of these companies, the miners rely on mercury to refine the gold,” Lauren adds, which contaminates the air, water, soil, and exposes miners to hazardous conditions.
read more... https://www.shopify.com/ca/blog/their-jewelry-sustainable-and-ethical-gold-mining
The water still flows but it is often very muddy and locals who continue to use it said they have developed skin rashes, and that fish catches have declined. Residents also express concerns about the health and environmental impacts of mercury, which is commonly used in small-scale gold mining.
read more... https://www.daweiwatch.com/24/04/2025/110672/
However, this illegal gold mining has also caused significant deforestation, and the use of mercury in the extraction process has led to the contamination of sensitive ecosystems.
But other sources, such as small-scale gold mining in developing countries, continue to push the toxin into the environment. Miners use elemental mercury to extract gold from ore, producing more than 1,000 tons of mercury tailings and vapor annually.
read more... https://scitechdaily.com/new-clues-from-penguins-warn-of-a-global-mercury-crisis/
In the goldfields of Kenya’s Migori County, where artisanal and small-scale gold mining sustains nearly 40 per cent of the population, mercury, the toxic heavy metal used in gold processing, is silently poisoning water, soils and the environment.
read more... https://peopledaily.digital/news/alarm-raised-over-toxic-toll-of-mercury-in-migoris-mines
Wild fig trees may provide an inexpensive, effective way to monitor mercury pollution near artisanal and small-scale gold mining sites throughout the Global South, a recent study suggests.
She said among people affected by mercury exposure, epidemiological studies show decreased performance on tests measuring coordination and speed of fine movements, and a loss of sensitivity to visual contrast. These neurological alterations can be observed in individuals with mercury exposure levels in their hair as high as six micrograms per gram (µg/g).
“Mercury is toxic,” he observed, and explained, “When heated during the gold purification process, it vaporizes. People inhale this vapor without knowing it. It is a slow poisoning process.”
The Department of Environment in Mondulkiri province has issued an appeal to citizens who are illegally mining for gold — most of them small-scale, family operations — within protected natural areas to immediately stop their activities, in order to avoid life-threatening risks and legal consequences.
read more... https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/calls-reissued-for-end-to-illegal-gold-mining-in-mondulkiri
Illegal gold mining has become a flashpoint in Ghana’s political and environmental discourse. Fueled by soaring global gold prices, rising youth unemployment and weak enforcement, galamsey has led to extensive deforestation, mercury pollution and the contamination of over 60 percent of the country’s water bodies.
Researchers have discovered that tree rings can serve as historical records of mercury pollution from artisanal gold mining in the Peruvian Amazon. A study led by Dr. Jacqueline Gerson from Cornell University focused on the Ficus insipida tree species, which forms distinct annual rings even in tropical climates.
Worse still, mercury levels in the same water samples measured 0.076mg per litre, above the 0.05mg safe standard. The source of the poisonous heavy metals is believed to be Chinese-owned gold mines upstream in Myanmar.
read more... https://world.thaipbs.or.th/detail/57252
Croplands near small-scale mines in parts of South America such as the Amazon basin face additional risks, with informal gold mining and deforestation contributing to releases of mercury.
read more... https://www.ecowatch.com/cropland-heavy-metal-pollution.html
The operation aimed to halt environmental destruction in the reserve, where hundreds of hectares of forest have been decimated by unchecked mining.
read more... https://newsghana.com.gh/ghana-faces-mounting-pressure-to-address-illegal-mining/
There is also the threat of Public Health Security due to the use of mercury and the associated spread of aids. The cumulative effect is a threat to National Security, hence a potential looming existential threat to people in Ghana.
read more... https://www.modernghana.com/news/1393894/ghanas-tragedy-is-allowing-foreigners-in-small.html
According to Jáchal no se Toca, these spills were confirmed in water analysis studies conducted over the past decade, in which increases in mercury, manganese and aluminum levels were detected.
This process unleashes toxic mercury into the air, making small-scale gold mining worldwide responsible for nearly two-fifths of the planet’s mercury pollution. While these operations provide an important source of income to many locals, they also poison the surrounding environment and negatively impact people’s health.
read more... https://www.democraticunderground.com/1127182049
New research has found that certain tropical trees in the Peruvian Amazon can serve as indicators of mercury pollution from gold mining, providing a cost-effective alternative to expensive air monitoring equipment, Mongabay reported on April 8.
read more... https://ictnews.org/news/global-indigenous-ring-around-the-mercury-pollution
The study found that mercury, the toxic heavy metal used in gold processing, is silently poisoning water, soils and the environment.
read more... https://www.the-star.co.ke/counties/western/2025-04-16-study-migori-gold-miners-exposed-to-toxic-mercury
“Each of these machines degrades at least 100 meters [330 ft] a day. They also use a lot more mercury,” said Moreira, the prosecutor.
read more... https://news.mongabay.com/2025/04/illegal-gold-mining-creeps-within-a-kilometer-of-amazons-second-tallest-tree/
According to Munich Personal RePEc Archive, Illegal mining practices, such as the use of mercury and improper land management, contribute to environmental degradation.
read more... https://newsghana.com.gh/time-to-declare-state-of-emergency-on-illegal-mining-kwabena-adu-koranteng-writes/
If the gold miners make a find, large quantities of highly toxic chemicals such as mercury are used to extract the gold from the rock. They pollute the water and often kill fish.
read more... https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/world/toxic-gold-the-true-cost-of-illegal-mining-in-the-amazon-forest/ar-AA1CRMTG
A new study by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom - Kenya (FNF-Kenya) has uncovered dangerously high levels of mercury contamination, sounding the alarm over a growing public health and environmental disaster.
read more... https://allafrica.com/stories/202504150045.html
Unsafe mining practices also lead to the contamination of water and soil. The people in the mining areas are exposed to mercury and other deadly chemicals. Miners and local communities also suffer respiratory illnesses.
read more... https://nation.africa/kenya/blogs-opinion/editorials/enhance-safety-to-curb-mining-deaths-injuries-5001954
CDG-GH sends a clear message to the youth engaging in galamsey: while you may see short-term financial gain, the long-term consequences are devastating for your health, your families, and your communities. Galamsey pollutes our rivers, devastates forests, destroys farmlands, and poisons water bodies with toxic substances like mercury.
read more... https://www.modernghana.com/news/1392742/say-no-to-galamsey-protect-our-forests-secure.html
The traditional methods of gold extraction—using harsh chemicals such as cyanide or mercury—are not only costly but also environmentally harmful, adding another layer of damage to an already unsustainable process.
Gold panners have been threatening the city's water security, contributing to the siltation and pollution of crucial water bodies, including Umzingwane, Upper Ncema, and Lower Ncema dams. Despite joint patrols and raids conducted by the council's rangers and municipal police, the illegal activities continue to escalate, prompting the need for more permanent and proactive solutions.
read more... https://bulawayo24.com/index-id-news-sc-national-byo-252010.html
As gold prices surge, so has illegal mining in South America, destroying forests and polluting rivers, but women in eastern Peru are pioneering technology that does not rely on toxic mercury and even produces more of the precious metal.
read more... https://www.gulftoday.ae/opinion/2025/04/13/in-perus-amazon-women-gold-miners-ditch-toxic-mercury
He highlighted the severe risks mercury poses to both the environment and public health, stressing that the workshop aimed to educate miners on the devastating effects of mercury and to actively promote safer alternatives.
Mercury poisoning threatens lives in Migori mines
see more... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8Ufc4xq9NY
He said, “This happens most especially through the release of toxic metals such as uranium, cadmium, lead, mercury, arsenic, nickel, etc. into the surface water and groundwater systems.
read more... https://punchng.com/how-illegal-mining-threatens-humans-communities/
.” Mercury is commonly used in the extraction process. This highly toxic heavy metal contaminates the soil and waterways. It “accumulates throughout the food chain in fish, fauna and flora, ultimately poisoning humans.”
read more... https://posteo.de/en/news/brazil-illegal-gold-mining-destroys-large-swaths-of-amazon-rainforest
However, ASM poses significant environmental, social, economic and occupational health impacts that affect their health and wellbeing. As ASHLEY AINE writes, many of these women are susceptible to cancer and infertility due to long exposure to mercury.
read more... https://observer.ug/news/new-report-exposes-plight-of-women-in-artisanal-and-small-scale-mining/
However, geology and mineral experts warn that gold mining in Vietnam raises serious issues like landscape destruction and water pollution, especially from toxic chemical discharges. Untreated waste from gold plants, containing cyanide and mercury, poses a major risk
read more... .Should VN exploit 40 gold mines amid the spike in gold prices?
As small miners extract gold, they mix liquid mercury with ore, then burn it to separate the gold. This process releases mercury, a dangerous neurotoxin, into the air, land, and water.
read more... https://www.msn.com/en-ie/money/other/gold-mining-is-poisoning-the-amazon-and-trees-could-expose-it-all/ar-AA1CCymY
"We can't continue to pollute and release more mercury into the atmosphere," said Victoria Condori (65), an artisanal mining concession owner on the Madre de Dios River. She employs 16 workers in an 800-hectare (1,977 acre) area.
read more... https://energynews.oedigital.com/pollution/2025/04/09/women-gold-miners-in-perus-amazon-ditch-toxic-mercury
An international team of researchers has now examined tree rings of species native to the Peruvian Amazon to determine if trees could be used to show approximately where and when atmospheric mercury was released.
read more... https://www.technologynetworks.com/tn/news/trees-capture-the-fingerprint-of-illegal-gold-mining-in-the-amazon-398252
But despite improvements, Greenpeace warned in its “Toxic Gold” report that gold mining “continues to be one of the main vectors of deforestation, mercury contamination, loss of biodiversity, and social disintegration” in the Amazon.
The study’s design was meticulously crafted to capture the impact of ASGM. Researchers strategically selected five study sites, each approximately 50 kilometers apart, in the Madre de Dios region. These sites represented a gradient of mercury exposure: one near a gold mine without burning practices, two near mines where burning was prevalent, and two remote, unimpacted areas serving as controls. This setup allowed the team to directly compare mercury accumulation in trees across varying levels of mining activity.
Scientists have found that mercury used in extraction contaminates the forest and waterways, endangering wildlife and human health.[3]
To do this, the miners use a method that requires adding toxic mercury into the ground and allowing it to bind to any surrounding gold. Because the resulting amalgams have a much lower melting point than gold alone, miners then burn the mercury away to collect the residual lucrative metal.
read more... https://www.popsci.com/environment/amazon-gold-mining-tree-rings/
Small-scale gold miners use mercury, leading to soil, fish, and human contamination (See also our report on the mercury marketing chain).
read more... https://www.social-solutions.net/artisinal-small-scale-mining
Yet, just kilometres away, from these industrial mines, artisanal miners hammer at unstable tunnels, their only tools pickaxes and mercury, a deadly chemical used to bind gold particles.
The most recent Global Mercury Assessment estimates that human-made mercury releases are approximately 2,220 tons per year and that a significant source is artisanal and small-scale gold mining (UNEP 2019).
read more... https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2024JPolE..31.5328K/abstract
Key advancements included establishing national lead limits in paint, developing a baseline mercury inventory for artisanal gold mining, and creating implementation strategies to prevent mercury leakage into the environment.
read more... https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501665902/un-govt-highlight-climate-management-success/
They also complain of environmental damage from the mercury used to extract gold and the arsenic released in the process.
read more... https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/biz/archives/2025/04/06/2003834680
Mercury is still used in the amalgamation process in small-scale gold processing. This study aims to evaluate the mercury contamination of various environmental media in the artisanal small-scale gold mining (ASGM) area in the Simpenan District, Sukabumi Regency.
read more... https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.3233/AJW240049
Continuous use of mercury , is poisoning water sources in Liberia by Chinese gold mining companies, and other artisan gold miners, from Grand Bassa County, to Grand Kru County. Bong County, to Gbarpolu County.
As explained by the researchers, heavy metals released by mining activities like arsenic, cadmium, copper, lead, mercury and zinc are naturally present in ore deposits and surrounding rocks.
read more... https://baguioheraldexpressonline.com/metal-pollution-threatens-two-zambales-water-enclaves/
The exposure to noxious mercury in Ghana as a result of illegal mining activities remains a serious health problem, and we cannot continue to live in a denial.
read more... https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/features/President-Mahama-is-killing-us-slowly-1978120
In 2022, United Nations expert Marcos Orellana confirmed that the use of mercury and cyanide in mining was causing severe environmental harm.
read more... https://amnesty.ca/urgent-actions/paraguay-free-environmental-defender-vidal-britez/
Ghana’s Lands and Natural Resources Minister, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has escalated efforts to combat illegal mining by likening its perpetrators to terrorists, citing irreversible damage to ecosystems and public health.
read more... https://newsghana.com.gh/ghana-minister-equates-illegal-miners-to-terrorists-over-environmental-harm/
The Current state of illegal mining has gone beyond control with all sorts of people deeply engaged in the menace. Currently, Businessmen and Politicians have taken over the deal and are seriously destroying the country’s forest reserves and water bodies to extract Gold. Todays all the water bodies in Ghana have been polluted and poisoned just for Gold.
read more... https://newsghana.com.gh/galamsey-beyond-control-kwabena-adu-koranteng-writes/
The exposure to noxious mercury in Ghana as a result of illegal mining activities remains a serious health problem, and we cannot continue to live in a denial.
read more... https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/features/President-Mahama-is-killing-us-slowly-1978120
Artisan gold mining in Uganda has been characterized by low-technology, labor-intensity through largely unskilled labor, use of rudimentary tools and techniques including use of mercury in cleaning the mineral ore.
read more... https://www.independent.co.ug/much-work-remains-to-formalize-artisanal-miners-in-uganda/
Mercury and cyanide used by miners are seeping into soil and rivers, contaminating food and water supplies and spiking the risk of diseases from kidney damage to cholera.
read more... https://thebftonline.com/2025/04/01/ravaged-forests-a-nation-at-risk-will-our-green-comeback-be-led-by-business/
