Mercury poisoning in Perus Amazon threatens health disaster
Illegal gold mines pollute Peru's Loreto region
Nearly 80% of people have mercury unsafe levels
Pregnant women and children most at risk
LIMA, June 20 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Indigenous and riverine communities in the Loreto region of the Peruvian Amazon have "chronic exposure" to mercury, according to a new study by the Center for Amazonian Scientific Innovation at Wake Forest University in the United States.
The test results released this month show nearly 80% of the people tested late last year had levels of mercury far above the safe limits in six communities on the banks of the Nanay and Pintuyacu rivers.
"The majority of the population is contaminated," said Jairo Reategui Davila, the Apu, or leader, of San Antonio de Nanay, one of the tested communities.
"We call on the authorities to take action on the matter because we are very concerned," he said.
The results showed 37% of the 273 men, women and children tested had levels of mercury at more than 10 ppm (parts per million) in their hair, compared to just 3% under the 2.2 ppm 'safe' limit established by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Gold prices have soared by nearly 50% in the last year, beating successive record highs, and encouraging a flourishing illegal gold mining trade that is damaging local nature and biodiversity, and raising significant health concerns.
Illegal miners use mercury to extract gold particles from the river silt and then burn off the toxic metal, which turns to vapour and is absorbed by surrounding plants, soil and rivers, said Claudia Vega, head of the mercury program at CINCIA.
Mercury poisoning is associated with several health issues, including cognitive impairment in adults and irreversible developmental delays and learning difficulties for children and babies in the womb.
Gabriel Barría, regional coordinator for heavy metals for the local health authority, said it was "very regrettable that villagers were highly contaminated" and blamed the spread of illegal gold mining for the mercury levels in Amazon rivers.
He said the health authority did not have the budget to carry out tests for mercury and had only tested 12 villagers on a recent health visit relying on blood and urine samples.
CINCIA said tests revealed an average level was 8.41 ppm, exceeding the WHO limit by nearly four times.
Given that illegal mining in Loreto is fairly recent, there are no comprehensive studies on its health impact on the local population yet.
But the levels in these initial tests are already higher than those in the Peruvian Amazon region most impacted by illegal gold mining, Madre de Dios, where 2012 tests showed the majority of adults had average mercury levels of 2.7ppm.
Luis Fernandez, executive director of CINCIA and Research Professor at Wake Forest University, said if illegal mining continued to spread in Loreto, then villagers with already high mercury levels might begin to approach those close to the worst recorded case of mercury contamination.
This includes Minamata Bay, the renowned case in Japan in the 1950s, where children were born with congenital deformities and neurological disabilities caused by a chemical factory dumping mercury into the water supply for decades.
Vega from CINCIA, who led the study, said the results showed worrying "background" levels of mercury in the Loreto riparian communities.
She said it could not be fully determined if the mercury came from naturally occurring sources or human-caused activities like illegal gold mining, but it was mostly caused by the villagers' diet fish-based diet.
However, "several studies agree that the entry of mining into a territory tends to significantly increase mercury levels in the environment", she said.
The newly released study found that people were mainly exposed to methylmercury, a highly toxic form that accumulates in the body.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mint
5 hours ago
- Mint
Mercury poisoning in Perus Amazon threatens health disaster
Illegal gold mines pollute Peru's Loreto region Nearly 80% of people have mercury unsafe levels Pregnant women and children most at risk LIMA, June 20 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Indigenous and riverine communities in the Loreto region of the Peruvian Amazon have "chronic exposure" to mercury, according to a new study by the Center for Amazonian Scientific Innovation at Wake Forest University in the United States. The test results released this month show nearly 80% of the people tested late last year had levels of mercury far above the safe limits in six communities on the banks of the Nanay and Pintuyacu rivers. "The majority of the population is contaminated," said Jairo Reategui Davila, the Apu, or leader, of San Antonio de Nanay, one of the tested communities. "We call on the authorities to take action on the matter because we are very concerned," he said. The results showed 37% of the 273 men, women and children tested had levels of mercury at more than 10 ppm (parts per million) in their hair, compared to just 3% under the 2.2 ppm 'safe' limit established by the World Health Organization (WHO). Gold prices have soared by nearly 50% in the last year, beating successive record highs, and encouraging a flourishing illegal gold mining trade that is damaging local nature and biodiversity, and raising significant health concerns. Illegal miners use mercury to extract gold particles from the river silt and then burn off the toxic metal, which turns to vapour and is absorbed by surrounding plants, soil and rivers, said Claudia Vega, head of the mercury program at CINCIA. Mercury poisoning is associated with several health issues, including cognitive impairment in adults and irreversible developmental delays and learning difficulties for children and babies in the womb. Gabriel Barría, regional coordinator for heavy metals for the local health authority, said it was "very regrettable that villagers were highly contaminated" and blamed the spread of illegal gold mining for the mercury levels in Amazon rivers. He said the health authority did not have the budget to carry out tests for mercury and had only tested 12 villagers on a recent health visit relying on blood and urine samples. CINCIA said tests revealed an average level was 8.41 ppm, exceeding the WHO limit by nearly four times. Given that illegal mining in Loreto is fairly recent, there are no comprehensive studies on its health impact on the local population yet. But the levels in these initial tests are already higher than those in the Peruvian Amazon region most impacted by illegal gold mining, Madre de Dios, where 2012 tests showed the majority of adults had average mercury levels of 2.7ppm. Luis Fernandez, executive director of CINCIA and Research Professor at Wake Forest University, said if illegal mining continued to spread in Loreto, then villagers with already high mercury levels might begin to approach those close to the worst recorded case of mercury contamination. This includes Minamata Bay, the renowned case in Japan in the 1950s, where children were born with congenital deformities and neurological disabilities caused by a chemical factory dumping mercury into the water supply for decades. Vega from CINCIA, who led the study, said the results showed worrying "background" levels of mercury in the Loreto riparian communities. She said it could not be fully determined if the mercury came from naturally occurring sources or human-caused activities like illegal gold mining, but it was mostly caused by the villagers' diet fish-based diet. However, "several studies agree that the entry of mining into a territory tends to significantly increase mercury levels in the environment", she said. The newly released study found that people were mainly exposed to methylmercury, a highly toxic form that accumulates in the body.
Economic Times
7 hours ago
- Economic Times
Yoga offers path to sustainability: WHO regional director Saima Wazed
Synopsis Saima Wazed, WHO South-East Asia Regional Director, highlights yoga's role in promoting sustainability and environmental responsibility on International Day of Yoga. She emphasizes that yoga fosters mindful consumption and respect for nature, reducing our ecological impact. Studies reveal yoga's benefits, including increased strength, reduced inflammation, and improved mental health, reinforcing its holistic value for individuals and the planet. In a world facing environmental challenges, yoga offers a path to sustainability by encouraging people to live simply, consume mindfully, and respect the natural world, WHO South-East Asia Regional Director Saima Wazed said on the eve of International Day of Yoga. ADVERTISEMENT "In embracing yoga, we can reduce our ecological footprint and contribute to a healthier planet," she said in a statement on Friday. The International Day of Yoga, marked annually on 21 June, celebrates this timeless practice that nurtures body and soul, she said. It was first proposed by India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the United Nations General Assembly in 2014. Recognizing yoga's universal appeal, he suggested the Summer Solstice - 21 June - as a symbolic date, Wazed 177 UN member states co-sponsoring the resolution, the proposal received overwhelming support, and the day was first celebrated in 2015, starting a global wellness movement, she year's theme, "Yoga for One Earth, One Health," reminds us of the deep connection between our well-being and the health of our planet, she added. ADVERTISEMENT "Yoga is more than just physical exercise. It is a journey towards inner peace and harmony, and teaches us to listen to our bodies and to live mindfully. As we practice yoga, we become more aware of our surroundings, and more attunes to the rhythm of nature," Wazed stated."In a world facing environmental challenges, yoga offers a path to sustainability by encouraging us to live simply, consume mindfully, and respect the natural world. In embracing yoga, we can reduce our ecological footprint and contribute to a healthier planet," she said. ADVERTISEMENT Clean air, pure water, and fertile soil are essential for our well-being. Yoga encourages us to protect these vital resources and ensure a thriving planet for future generations, Wazed benefits of yoga are well-documented, she said. ADVERTISEMENT Studies have shown that 77 per cent of people report feeling physically stronger after practising yoga regularly. 82 per cent of patients with chronic inflammation experienced a nearly 50 per cent reduction in inflammation after just six weeks of daily yoga. Yoga can also help mental health, she added. A study by Harvard Medical School found that 60 per cent of participants with depression experienced a significant reduction in symptoms after practising yoga twice a week for eight weeks, Wazed said. PTI (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel) (Catch all the US News, UK News, Canada News, International Breaking News Events, and Latest News Updates on The Economic Times.) Download The Economic Times News App to get Daily International News Updates. NEXT STORY
Time of India
7 hours ago
- Time of India
Yoga offers path to sustainability: WHO regional director Saima Wazed
Saima Wazed, WHO South-East Asia Regional Director, highlights yoga's role in promoting sustainability and environmental responsibility on International Day of Yoga. She emphasizes that yoga fosters mindful consumption and respect for nature, reducing our ecological impact. Studies reveal yoga's benefits, including increased strength, reduced inflammation, and improved mental health, reinforcing its holistic value for individuals and the planet. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads In a world facing environmental challenges , yoga offers a path to sustainability by encouraging people to live simply, consume mindfully, and respect the natural world, WHO South-East Asia Regional Director Saima Wazed said on the eve of International Day of Yoga "In embracing yoga, we can reduce our ecological footprint and contribute to a healthier planet," she said in a statement on International Day of Yoga, marked annually on 21 June, celebrates this timeless practice that nurtures body and soul, she was first proposed by India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the United Nations General Assembly in 2014. Recognizing yoga's universal appeal, he suggested the Summer Solstice - 21 June - as a symbolic date, Wazed 177 UN member states co-sponsoring the resolution, the proposal received overwhelming support, and the day was first celebrated in 2015, starting a global wellness movement, she year's theme, "Yoga for One Earth, One Health," reminds us of the deep connection between our well-being and the health of our planet, she added."Yoga is more than just physical exercise. It is a journey towards inner peace and harmony, and teaches us to listen to our bodies and to live mindfully. As we practice yoga, we become more aware of our surroundings, and more attunes to the rhythm of nature," Wazed stated."In a world facing environmental challenges, yoga offers a path to sustainability by encouraging us to live simply, consume mindfully, and respect the natural world. In embracing yoga, we can reduce our ecological footprint and contribute to a healthier planet," she air, pure water, and fertile soil are essential for our well-being. Yoga encourages us to protect these vital resources and ensure a thriving planet for future generations, Wazed benefits of yoga are well-documented, she have shown that 77 per cent of people report feeling physically stronger after practising yoga regularly. 82 per cent of patients with chronic inflammation experienced a nearly 50 per cent reduction in inflammation after just six weeks of daily yoga. Yoga can also help mental health, she added.A study by Harvard Medical School found that 60 per cent of participants with depression experienced a significant reduction in symptoms after practising yoga twice a week for eight weeks, Wazed said. PTI
