Recycling Gold Could Reduce Impact of Illicit Mining in the Amazon, Research Suggests
Artisanal and small-scale gold mining in the Tapajós River Basin, a primary tributary of the Amazon, has resulted in increased greenhouse gas emissions and contamination of water bodies. Mercury is used by miners to separate gold from ore. It is estimated that annually, miners released no less than 2.5 metric tons of this toxic metal into the area, contaminating soil as well as waterways. This not only impacts the environment but also the health of riverine and indigenous communities in this region like the Munduruku people. Different studies have found that every individual in 3 Munduruku villages is contaminated by…