Silver and Gold: Mercury Pollution from Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining

For centuries miners have used mercury to trap particles of precious metals. Artisanal and small-scale gold miners used an estimated 1,400 metric tons of mercury in 2011. About one-third of the mercury used is believed to go into the air while the rest goes into soils and waterways.
http://dailyreportage.com/mercury_pollution_from_artisanal_and_small_scale_gold_mining_r_1228275.html