UN Project Seeks to Eliminate Mercury in ASGM Sector in Mongolia and the Philippines

According to UNEP, the artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) sector is the single largest source of human-made mercury emissions. It is responsible for the release of 1,000 tonnes of mercury to the atmosphere each year, and exposes millions of workers to potential poisoning. In Mongolia, 60,000 workers are employed in the sector – one-third of the rural workforce – producing 46% of the country’s gold output and supporting the livelihoods of 180,000 people. In the Philippines, the sector is responsible for 70% of the nation’s gold production, with 500,000 miners providing livelihoods for around two million people
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