"Hidden Hazard: Gold Mining Mercury Pollutes African Crops, Study Reveals"

A study reveals that mercury pollution from gold mining is contaminating crops in Africa through the air, threatening food security, health, and environmental justice amid rising gold prices.

• The study published in Biogeosciences highlights that mercury (element) emissions from gold mining directly affect crop safety, challenging previous assumptions about soil contamination.
• Artisan and small-scale gold mining has surged due to gold prices increasing over tenfold since 2000, exacerbating mercury (element) pollution in agricultural regions.
• The findings raise urgent concerns about health implications for communities reliant on contaminated crops, emphasizing the critical link between mining practices and food security.