Artisanal gold mining is the second largest source of mercury pollution after the burning of fossil fuels, releasing around 1,400 tonnes of mercury to the environment every year, according to United Nations data. Over time, mercury absorbed by the body causes irreversible neurological damage such as tremors and loss of coordination, speech impairment, impaired vision and muscle weakness.
“Mercury has long been known to be a neurotoxin, causing damage to adults and birth defects in unborn children,” said Veiga, who has studied gold mining in more than 40 countries. “In the Victorian era, mad hatter disease or hatters’ shakes was common among English hat makers, because they used mercury to treat fur to make hats.”
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