Most small-scale miners use mercury to mine for gold, said Marcello Veiga, associate professor with UBC’s mining engineering program.
The process has a number of harmful effects on both people and the environment. Mercury is toxic and difficult to dispose of properly. The metallic mercury used in mining, over time, turns into methylmercury, an even more dangerous substance. Methylmercury collects in inland and marine ecosystems, affecting the health of fish and wildlife and consequently human health.
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