Health Impact of Artisanal Gold Mining in Latin America

Metallurgy in Latin America dates back more than 4,000 years. Ancient artifacts of gold have been found at numerous sites throughout the Andes. The colonial era brought expanded mining of gold, silver and other metals. Techniques to increase the yield of precious metals were introduced, including use of environmentally hazardous processes such as mercury amalgamation. To this day mining continues as an important sector of the economy. However, the gold boom of the past decade has highlighted the risks and benefits of its expansion. The health effects of mining are one important concern.
     Latin America contains some of the world’s largest deposits of gold and other precious metals, such as Gramalote and La Colosa in Colombia, Pueblo Viejo in the Dominican Republic, Madre de Dios in Peru, and the Volta Grande in Brazil. As these countries experience growth, they must decide what role mining should play in their futures. Recovering valuable metals can make these nations more prosperous, thereby improving the health and well-being of their citizens. However, mining, particularly small-scale artisanal mining, also brings toxic exposures that produce adverse health effects on local and distant populations.
http://revista.drclas.harvard.edu/publications/revistaonline/winter-2014/health-impact-artisanal-gold-mining-latin-america