Artisanal Gold Mining — Mercury Pollution
- Estimated population at risk is over 3.5 million people
- Responsible for 1/3 of global annual mercury release
- Major effects felt in Africa, and Ghana, the Philippines and Indonesia are right behind
- Exposure pathways are primarily inhalation and ingestion through vapors burned off when attempting to separate gold from mercury-gold amalgam
- Hazardous to kidneys, respiratory, cardiovascular and central nervous system
- Can cause neurobehavioral disorders like mental retardation
- http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2012/11/5-industries-that-threaten-the-globe-and-how-we-are-going-to-save-it?cmpid=rss
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