Gold mining region in Mozambique produces high levels of mercury

Plants, animals, soil and nearby rivers can all be potentially polluted by the use of mer-cury in the gold extraction process. “Mercury amalgamation results in the discharge of an estimated 1 000 t/y of mercury, representing about 30% of the world’s anthropogenic mercury releases,” the company states.
The process of amalgamation transforms mercury into a powerful neurotoxin, which works its way up the food chain through bioaccumulation. According to the inter-national network of activists, Ban Mercury Group, as much as 95% of all mercury used in small-scale gold mining is released into the environment.
Blacksmith Institute states that the nervous system is sensitive to all forms of mercury, and that high levels of metallic, inorganic, or organic mercury can permanently damage vital organs such as the brain and kidneys.
http://www.miningweekly.com/article/gold-mining-region-in-mozambique-produces-high-levels-of-mercury-2013-08-02