International Conference: A Multiple Stakeholders Perspective On Gold Mining And Gold Consumption

Small scale and artisanal mining appear to be huge polluters as well. In this respect, it is not
surprising that research of the Blacksmith Institute and the Swiss Green cross (2011) points
out that mining is responsible for four out of the ten most important forms of toxic pollution.
Small-scale mining is said to account for one third of the mercury released in the
environment. Ten up to twenty million miners use mercury in an irresponsible way, exposing
their own health to life threatening risks.
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