Artisanal gold mining (AGM), where high amount of mercury is using without proper protection is one among the major
sources of mercury pollution. AGM is being practiced at various regions in India, but studies are meager in this part of the
world. The present study analysed the mercury content of sediment samples collected from the artisanal gold mining
regions of Nilambur Valley, a part of Wayanad Gold field, Kerala. The AGM activity is reduced during the last few years
due to the restriction of forest department and reduction in the quantity of available alluvial gold deposit. The results
showed that concentration of mercury in the sediments varied from 0.103 to 0.468 mg/kg with a mean of 0.365 mg/kg.
These values are higher than the values prescribed by USEPA for uncontaminated sediments. The results clearly indicate
that the region is contaminated with mercury and the values are lower than the AGM regions of other part of the world as
well as the polluted regions in India
http://www.scientific-journals.co.uk/web_documents/4010102_mercury_contamination.pdf
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