During the extraction phase, mercury is used to separate the tiny particles of gold from the sediments. The unrestrained use of mercury also is both destructive to the environment and the people of the Amazon. According to the Artisanal Gold Council, a Canadian non-governmental organization dedicated to studying artisanal gold mining, more than 180 tons of mercury are disseminated yearly through the air, river and soil in Madre de Dios alone. As mercury is burned off into the air or spilled into nearby rivers, far-reaching threats to the environment and health emerge. In communities where fish is an important part of the diet, people can accumulate mercury in their bodies, which can lead to damage to the nervous system, as well as vision and hearing impairments. In severe cases, it can lead to birth defects or death. In 2016, a state of emergency was declared in the region due to mercury contamination.
read more... https://insightcrime.org/investigations/a-toxic-trade-illegal-mining-in-peru-amazon/
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