Study Finds High Levels of Mercury in Hair Samples From Indigenous Women in Peru and Nicaragua

Study Finds High Levels of Mercury in Hair Samples From Indigenous Women in Peru and Nicaragua

Small-scale gold mining in the area releases mercury into the environment, where it can make its way into fish and, in turn, humans

Mercury Exposure of Women in Two Latin American Gold Mining Countries

Image:  screenshot_2025-10-14_at_7.45.30_am.png Mercury contamination continues to undermine the rights to life, health and a clean, healthy and sustainable environment of Indigenous peoples, workers, children and local communities around the world. By far, the main contributor to mercury pollution globally is the use of mercury in small-scale gold mining. It is time to prohibit the trade in, and use of, mercury for the sake of our health and t…