Scientists recently discovered
that a major source of atmospheric mercury is no longer coal-burning
plants but mercury released from the small and often illegal gold mining
operations in undeveloped countries around the world. Mercury combines
easily with gold to form a malleable alloy which makes it a seemingly
attractive way to extract gold from concentrated sediments. When the
miners burn off the mercury to obtain pure gold, they end up polluting
the local air and water and cause considerable harm to themselves and
their families and those living downstream.
The solution lies in not making this activity illegal (which
would force it underground) but to work with local communities to
implement better measures to purify gold. Having seen such worrisome
gold mining practices in Peru, I was impressed to learn we have a small
non-profit group in B.C. which is dedicated to working in such
communities to improve practices
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