A new episode of Living Planet delves into the historical and ongoing impact of mercury pollution in South America, specifically from artisanal and small-scale gold mining.
Kathleen Schuster reports for Deutsche-Welle.
In short:
- The episode explores the deep historical roots of mercury use in mining, dating back to the Spanish colonial era, and its environmental impacts.
- Experts discuss modern methods to mitigate mercury's harmful effects and the role of forests like the Amazon in absorbing mercury.
- Innovative solutions are presented for reducing mercury use in gold extraction, highlighting advancements in non-toxic mining technologies.
Why this matters:
Mercury pollution from mining operations is not confined to local areas. Due to its volatile nature, mercury can travel long distances through the atmosphere, leading to global dispersion. This means that even communities far removed from mining sites can be affected by the environmental and health impacts of mercury pollution.
