Illegal Gold Mining in Bolivia Threatens Indigenous Health and Regional Stability

In the dense Amazon regions along Bolivia's Beni and Madre de Dios rivers, a silent crisis unfolds—illegal gold mining operations have unleashed toxic mercury contamination that now imperils indigenous communities. A recent pilot study involving 120 indigenous women revealed shockingly elevated mercury levels in their bodies, primarily from consuming contaminated local fish. How Long Will the Global Community Ignore This Toxic Threat? According to research conducted by Colombia’s University of Cartagena alongside local Bolivian institutions, nine out of ten women tested exceeded international health safety limits for mercury concentration in hair samples. Even more alarming: three out of four showed...