CSD Small Islands Forests National Info Major Groups Technical Coop Issues Eliminating mercury pollution Location Bolivar, Venezuela. Description More than one million people in Latin America are involved in artisanal gold mining. High percentage of small scale miners, including women, use the mercury-based amalgamation process in order to extract gold, a process that causes catastrophic damages to the environment and their health. Hundreds of tons of mercury are released every year into the environment, contaminating the air, drinking water and food.
Mercury poisoning causes damages to the central nervous system.
Communities whose diet depends on local farm produce and fish caught around gold-mining areas are particularly vulnerable. The project focused on Bolivar s Caroni river, a major mining site since the end of the last century. Heating of amalgam is carried out in isolated areas using proper recycling equipment and safety precautions. Issues Addressed Water and air pollution, Health and safety. Results Achieved Artisanal miners can continue mining and processing gold ore without using mercury at river sites.