Kenya: Slaves of the Gold Mines

This process is risky since mercury is a very toxic metal. According to Dr Damson Oluoch, of Meridian Medical Centre, mercury is absorbed into the body through the gut and skin. "Sudden inhalation of the mercury vapour will cause inflammation of the lungs, damage to the nerves and even death when ingested in high quantities," says Dr Oluoch. Surprisingly, miners like Amos use mercury with no protection at all, handling it with their bare hands and no face mask when evaporating it.
When introduced into a person's body, mercury will remain in the blood for 60 days but will stay in the kidneys and brain for years. "Prolonged exposure to mercury will lead to central nervous system toxicity, renal failure, slow brain motor speed, poor memory, impaired bodily coordination and death," Dr Oluoch adds.
http://allafrica.com/stories/201309260374.html