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Peru declares emergency over mercury contamination
Peru declares emergency over mercury contamination
Franklin Briceno?|?AP May 23 at 6:45 PM
LIMA, Peru — Peru’s government declared an emergency across a broad jungle region Monday because of mercury contamination caused by wildcat gold mining.
The 60-day decree affects 11 districts in the Madre de Dios region bordering Brazil where studies carried out by Stanford University and others have found high levels of the toxic element in people, rivers and fish.
Deputy Health Minister Percy Minaya said as many as 50,000 people could be exposed to high levels of mercury. Particularly affected are members of the Harakmbut indigenous group, some of whom were found with mercury levels six times the suggested level.
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Franklin Briceno?|?AP May 23 at 6:45 PM
LIMA, Peru — Peru’s government declared an emergency across a broad jungle region Monday because of mercury contamination caused by wildcat gold mining.
The 60-day decree affects 11 districts in the Madre de Dios region bordering Brazil where studies carried out by Stanford University and others have found high levels of the toxic element in people, rivers and fish.
Deputy Health Minister Percy Minaya said as many as 50,000 people could be exposed to high levels of mercury. Particularly affected are members of the Harakmbut indigenous group, some of whom were found with mercury levels six times the suggested level.
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It is a long way to the Atlantic Ocean from Peru, and this mercury will contaminate the entire distance eventually.
