On 50th Earth Day, a look at what is causing the Amazon rainforest to fast approach its tipping point

Among the most toxic and long-lasting elements in the world, mercury is then added to the exposed soil. It acts as an amalgam, binding the gold specks together. This mercury is then boiled away, seeping into groundwater, and poisoning people and the natural world alike. “In 2018, it was estimated that 185 tonnes of mercury was released into the Peruvian Amazon,” says duPont. “It can cause neurological and organ damage, a lowered IQ, and in some cases, death,” she adds.
read more... https://www.firstpost.com/long-reads/on-50th-earth-day-a-look-at-what-caused-the-amazon-rainforest-to-fast-approach-its-tipping-point-8276581.html