Mercury Menace: Illegal Gold Mining Threatens Peru's Loreto Region

Illegal gold mining in Peru's Loreto region has resulted in widespread mercury contamination, affecting nearly 80% of local inhabitants. Pregnant women and children are at significant risk, as mercury poisoning can lead to severe health issues. Authorities are urged to take immediate action to address this crisis.

Illegal gold mining operations in Peru's Loreto region have escalated to a critical public health crisis, as a recent study reveals rampant mercury contamination. Conducted by the Center for Amazonian Scientific Innovation, the study highlights the plight of indigenous and riverine communities seriously affected by mercury levels far exceeding World Health Organization (WHO) safety limits.

The implications are dire, particularly for pregnant women and children most vulnerable to mercury exposure. With nearly 80% of test subjects, including men, women, and children, showing unsafe mercury levels, local leaders like Jairo Reategui Davila are calling upon government authorities to take urgent countermeasures.

As illegal mining activities proliferate due to soaring gold prices, their environmental destructiveness and health risks amplify. Claudia Vega of CINCIA spearheads efforts to address mercury usage in mining operations, emphasizing the perilous consequences of this contamination for future generations and biodiversity in the region.

(With inputs from agencies.)