In May, President Ollanta Humaladeclared a 60-day state of emergency in a large remote area of the Amazon jungle as levels of mercury from illegal gold mining reached record high levels.
According to country's environment minister, as many as 50,000 people or 41% of the population of the gold-rich Madre de Dios region, bordering Brazil, has been exposed to mercury contamination in recent years.
The lethal element has not only directly affected people, but it has also polluted rivers and fish.
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