Fairtrade Gold From Mines In Africa Saves Millions of Lives and Reduces Mercury Pollution

In east Africa, gold is extracted by burning and evaporating mercury, which releases toxic fumes, causing devastating health effects on local workers. People with memory problems and impaired vision are so common to see, that it might even be considered normal. But mercury poisoning is not the only problem the industry has. Illegal workers, many of them children, unlicensed mines, and 24-hour working shifts with no proper safety equipment, all these characterize a typical African gold mine.
http://www.greenoptimistic.com/2013/09/09/fairtrade-gold-mines-africa-saves-millions-lives/#.UjBVWX9jbko