Mercury to be banned

"The use of mercury in small goldmines must also be banned," said Häuser. "That is a big problem in developing countries."
Human Rights Watch estimates that 13 million people working in small goldmines around the world come into unprotected contact with mercury. Among them are many children, who are particularly susceptible to mercury's damaging effects. According to a report published ahead of the meeting by the UN's development agency UNEP, mercury emissions in the gold-mining industry have doubled since 2005, and the UNEP expects consumption of gold to rise as a result of the increase in the price of the commodity.
http://www.dw.de/mercury-to-be-banned/a-16519002