Mercury is the top pollutant in artisanal gold mining operations. In the Pure Earth’s database close to 3.4 million people are at risk for exposure. Mercury is a bio-accumulative toxin that is absorbed by fish, birds and other wildlife, contaminating local food chains. It is known to cause neurological damage, especially in fetuses and children. As prevalent and hazardous as mercury is in small-scale mining, other pollutants are also released. Within the database, lead has been found at more than 20 sites, putting close to 250,000 people at risk. Lead is often released in the air when the lead-containing ore is crushed. Lead also causes neurological and developmental damage in children.
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