Mercury Contamination Crisis Hits Yanomami TribeAmazon
A recent study reveals widespread mercury exposure among the Yanomami, Brazil's largest Indigenous tribe, due to illegal gold mining activities.
- The study, conducted by Brazil's top public health institute, found that 84% of Yanomami tested showed mercury levels equal to or above 2 micrograms per gram, indicating significant health risks.
- A smaller group, 10%, exhibited mercury levels above 6 micrograms per gram, a threshold associated with severe medical conditions.
- Mercury used in illegal gold mining operations is the primary source of contamination, affecting both the Yanomami people and local fish populations.
- The contamination has led to a range of health issues, including decreased sensitivity in extremities, overall weakness, and severe cognitive and neurological damage in some cases.
- Efforts to address the crisis include Brazil's participation in the 2013 Minamata Convention to curb mercury emissions, and current President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's pledge to expel gold prospectors from Yanomami territory.
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