Signs of regrowth offer hope for Peruvian rainforest cleared for gold

But these profits come at a cost that exceeds deforestation. As reported by Reuters, informal gold mining – which has little, if any, regulation – dumps around 40 metric tons of mercury into Amazonian rivers each year. Communities exposed to mercury from mining camps exhibit a range of maladies, from chronic headaches to permanent brain damage. The problem received international attention earlier this year when former President Ollanta Humala declared a 60-day health emergency to address rampant mercury poisoning in Madre de Dios communities.
https://news.mongabay.com/2016/10/signs-of-regrowth-offer-hope-for-peruvian-rainforest-cleared-for-gold/