Just Before Hosting Major U.N. Climate Talks, Peru Slashes Environmental Regulation

Even with regulations in place, illegal mining is a major environmental hazard in Peru.
“The illegal miners have pushed deep into the Amazon jungle to pan in rivers and creeks, most notably in the wildlife-rich Madre de Dios region,” said Juan José Córdova, leader of the energy sector at KPMG, Peru. “It is estimated that 30 to 40 metric tons of mercury are dumped into the environment annually and burned off after amalgamation — generally without even using rudimentary technology to protect workers’ health or capture waste or fumes.”
Liquid mercury is used to extract gold particles. The mercury can make its way into fish species that are consumed by humans and can lead to mercury poisoning. Deforestation, a major issue with illegal mining, is also detrimental to climate goals as forests are major carbon sinks.
http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2014/07/22/3462348/peru-environmental-regulations-mining-climate-conference/