"Artisanal gold mining, which accounts for more than 10% of the global gold supply, releases an estimated 1,000 tons of toxic mercury per year," Zhang said.
Around 15 million gold miners, including 4.5 million women and 600,000 children, are exposed to mercury according to UN figures.
Small-scale mining was also held up by the UN as a way for people to make money in developing countries, as mainstream mining growth "has often failed to generate any meaningful benefits for the countries’ populations".
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