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Friday, January 24, 2014

Pollution from toxic chemicals poses a serious threat

Mercury causes brain damage and other conditions, and is particularly harmful to children. One of the main uses for mercury is small-scale gold mining. Adults and children commonly use mercury to separate the gold from ore - something I documented when visiting small-scale mines in Tanzania and Mali.
At the WHO today, governments from around the world made clear that environmental protection and health have to go hand in hand, and that action must be taken urgently. This is a welcome development.
http://www.hrw.org/news/2014/01/23/dispatches-heavy-metal-victory

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