Mercury Exposure as a Result of Gold Mining in the Amazon

Isabelle Goebel

Two threats pose the Amazon rainforest: deforestation and contaminated drinking water. Both of these are being degraded by the presence of gold mining in the area.

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    Mercury Exposure as a Result of Gold Mining in the Amazon

    Two threats pose the Amazon rainforest: deforestation and contaminated drinking water. Both of these are being degraded by the presence of gold mining in the area. Gold miners cut down and burn the forests to clear the land to access the gold beneath the surface. They spray hoses onto the remaining soil to remove, sieve, and capture it. Often, large machinery is used to help accelerate the work, causing even more destruction to the forests. These small and illegal gold mining operations are one cause of irreversible deforestation and contaminated drinking water across the Amazon region. Mercury is mixed in the sieved soil, forming a mercury-gold amalgam with the gold. It is then heated, vaporizing the mercury to retrieve the gold. This process is very dangerous and can lead to mercury exposure and significant health risks, such as the potential to cause cancer. The inorganic mercury released into the atmosphere falls into waterways and is converted into methylmercury by anaerobic bacteria. It will eventually bioaccumulate into the food people rely on in the region. One cause for the increased presence of gold mining in the Amazon has been the increased price of gold. “The beginning of 2019, gold was $1,281 per ounce. By the end of the year, it was up to $1,509 per ounce — a 17.8% gain” (WGC). Even the legal gold trade in Brazil, which is largely unregulated, facilitates illegal business and plays a significant role in the destruction of the Amazon. What’s needed is a sustainable, money-making pathway for the individuals currently participating in this illegal business. The high gold prices have convinced many people to leave their jobs and pursue the riches and uncertainty of mining. The miners need a profitable and stable job to not rely on gold mining as their source of income. Buying vintage jewelry and holding onto electronics longer are also good ways for consumers to decrease their gold consumption. The documentary, River of Gold, inspired me to research this topic.

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Two threats pose the Amazon rainforest: deforestation and contaminated drinking water. Both of these are being degraded by the presence of gold mining in the area.

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