InfoAmazonia visited location where illegal mercury is sold along the border between Bolivia and Brazil, for illegal use by wildcat gold mining operations in Amazonia. After the Minamata Convention, Bolivia became the world’s largest mercury importer and it is estimated that half of the metal is sold as contraband to neighboring countries including Brazil, which has eliminated its legal mercury imports.
Category: Health
From mining to fish: how mercury contaminates the Munduruku Indigenous community
Carnivorous fish are among the most consumed by the Munduruku and the most contaminated by mercury. Scientists suspect the toxic metal, found in the bodies of the members of this indigenous community is seriously affecting the health of adults and children who are born with malformations and developmental delays. Munduruku women already avoid getting pregnant.
New study suggests that mercury contamination is widespread among residents of the Amazon
Although living 186 miles away from the area along the Tapajós River where illegal mining is concentrated, Santarém’s inhabitants are at high risk of mercury poisoning.
Conserved landscapes act as barriers against diseases like Covid-19
Scientists emphasize that reducing the threats of contagion by zoonoses depends on “landscape immunity”, but in Brazil, the maintenance of large conserved environments runs into loopholes and delays in implementing the Forest Code.
Hemmed in by agribusiness, Xavante territory is hit by high Covid-related mortality rates
With pressure on their native land and traditional foods, agrochemicals polluting their rivers, and a high rate of chronic disease have left the Xavante people of Brazil’s Cerrado savanna vulnerable to the pandemic.
Overcast atmosphere in Acre
As well as the capital Rio Branco, Xapuri and other towns in the interior suffer from pollution above safe limits for human health
Pollution is one of the footprints in the chain of Amazon destruction
The most vulnerable municipalities are affected by various types of crime
Social and environmental crises come together in Mato Grosso in a year of record burning in the Pantanal
In the rural area, the challenge for residents affected by the smoke is to get medical care
The victims of the geography of fire
The smoke from the fires and Covid sweeps from southern Amazonas to Acre
Invisible enemies: smoke from burnings worsens Covid-19 in the Amazon
Smoke from burnings worsens Covid-19 in the Amazon