River transport of mercury from artisanal and small-scale gold mining and risks for dietary mercury exposure in Madre de Dios, Peru

• DOI: 10.1039/c4em00567h
• Publication Date: 2014-12-19T12:06:47Z
• Authors: Sarah E. Diringer; Beth J. Feingold; Ernesto J. Ortiz; John A. Gallis; Julio M. Araújo-F...; Axel Berky; William K. Y. Pan; Heileen Hsu-Kim
• Keywords: Mercury; MERCURY EXPOSURE

Artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) is a major contributor to deforestation the largest anthropogenic source of atmospheric mercury worldwide. Despite significant information on direct health impacts ASGM miners, impact contamination downstream communities has not been well characterized, particularly in Peru's Madre de Dios region. In this area, increased significantly since 2000 led substantial political social controversy. This research examined spatial distribution transport through River with distance from activity. study also characterized risks for dietary exposure local residents who depend fish river. sediment, suspended solids water column, samples were collected 2013 at 62 sites near 17 over 560 km stretch its tributaries. areas known activity, concentrations solids, within elevated relative locations upstream mining. Fish tissue observed levels representing public threat, greater than one-third carnivorous exceeding international standard 0.5 mg kg(-1). demonstrates that located hundreds kilometers including children indigenous populations may be involved mining, are risk exceed acceptable body burdens. report represents first systematic region aid policy decision-making related activities Peru.