the activity can have serious consequences for human health. Mercury is still largely used to collect flecks of gold and after it is burned it leaves toxic vapor behind. It can also enter the ecosystem through bacteria and accumulate in organisms like fish that are then consumed by humans.
Mercury contamination can cause tremors, insomnia, memory loss, among other symptoms and it has been already detected in Peruvian communities living close to illegal mining sites. Actually, the Madre de Dios region had a 60-day state of emergency earlier this year after studies revealed toxic levels of mercury in local communities.
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