Health Impact of Artisanal Gold Mining in Latin America

Artisanal miners will continue to use mercury as long as they believe that the benefits of this method outweigh the costs. Shifts in attitudes must come from making miners aware of the risks and showing them new techniques that minimize the amount of mercury used or replace mercury amalgamation with safer alternatives. Workers and their families will benefit, as will everyone on the planet, since most mercury in the atmosphere is eventually deposited in the oceans, where it contributes to global methyl mercury contamination of seafood.
     Restriction of mercury trade by the recent Minamata Convention, as well as national regulations, are intended to decrease the availability of the metal. As mercury becomes harder to come by, it is hoped that miners will seek safer alternatives. Governments, universities, and non-governmental organizations can promote this transition.
http://revista.drclas.harvard.edu/publications/revistaonline/winter-2014/health-impact-artisanal-gold-mining-latin-america