Scientists have confirmed that mercury pollution from small-scale gold mining is contaminating food crops through the air. For years, it was believed that plants absorbed mercury mainly through their roots from soil or water. However, new research shows that a significant amount of mercury actually comes from the atmosphere. Plants take it in through their leaves during photosynthesis. In essence, they’re “breathing” in mercury.
This situation is alarming, especially with the surge of unregulated artisanal gold mining in regions like Africa. Mercury emissions pose serious risks to both food security and human health.
A recent study from an international team at Queens University and the University of Lagos looked at a farming community in Nigeria close to a small-scale mining operation. They compared crops from fields located 500 meters from the mining site with those from 8 kilometers away. The findings were significant: crops near the mining site had mercury levels 10 to 50 times higher. Leafy greens, commonly eaten by people and livestock, retained the highest mercury levels.
Mercury is a powerful neurotoxin. Long-term exposure, even at low amounts, can damage the nervous system, hinder brain development in children, and lead to various health issues. The rise in gold prices, which have soared more than tenfold since 2000, has made small-scale mining the largest source of global mercury emissions.
In 2013, 140 countries ratified the Minamata Convention on Mercury, aiming to protect human health and the environment from mercury pollution. This treaty covers the entire lifecycle of mercury, including its extraction, use, and disposal. However, the recent study suggests that monitoring efforts often overlook crops, which are a crucial pathway for mercury exposure.
Odukoya Abiodun Mary, a co-lead author from the University of Lagos, emphasized the importance of recognizing varied dietary sources of mercury. While much focus has been on fish consumption, the study reveals that crops can also contribute to overall mercury exposure.
Regulation and monitoring of mercury use in the Global South remain weak. Many communities rely on artisanal mining as an economic lifeline. As Mary noted, miners are unlikely to stop using mercury unless affordable and practical alternatives are made available.
With the continued growth of small-scale mining, millions in Africa, South America, and Asia may face serious long-term health risks from consuming local crops. This study underscores the urgent need for policies to monitor and reduce airborne mercury in agricultural areas near mining activities.
For further details on mercury and its global impact, you can check the Minamata Convention.
Source link
Airborne, Mercury, from, Gold, Mining, is, Contaminating, African, Food, Crops
