Latest news with #mercury
CBS News
3 days ago
- Health
- CBS News
Cicadas emerge on Cape Cod after 17 years underground. Why researchers test them for mercury.
After 17 years underground, cicadas are emerging on Cape Cod. The noisy bugs will spend the next four to six weeks above ground as part of their life cycle. When underground, they feed on nutrients and pollutants from nearby trees. The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) is capturing the insects to test them for heightened mercury levels. "We are looking at the base of the tree to see any if cicadas are climbing up from the bottom," said Corinne Richard, a WHOI research assistant. "The first thing we need to do is find a tree with holes around the bottom." Mercury levels in cicadas Mercury is everywhere from the ground to the air to the ocean. Scientists at WHOI want to see if the mercury levels in the bugs are getting higher, and how much of it is natural versus manmade. Assistant Scientist Laura Motta is out collecting cicadas, but typically she is working on zooplankton in the ocean. She calls them the bugs of the sea. Often, she sees mercury in plankton as well as the fish we eat. Cicada on Cape Cod CBS Boston "The cicadas are a cool analogue of what happens out in the ocean," said Motta. "What we are trying to figure out is how they get it, through time and anthropogenic emissions increases? How are we polluting our forest?" Motta and Richard have been collecting cicadas as well as their molts and the leaves they are near. When the molts land on the ground, they will decompose and potentially reintroduce that mercury to the soil. The mercury can also be passed onto their offspring. "What we are trying to figure out is where does it end up, and how does it accumulate and become a public health problem?" said Motta. The insects are placed into bags depending on their gender. It's easy to figure out which one is a female. "They don't have the ability to sing," said Motta, putting a live cicada up to her ear and shaking it. "If you get really close, you'll be able to tell female or male." How cicadas are tested After they collect a cicada, they give them a quick bath with a water bottle to clean off any excess mercury on their body. The bugs are later frozen at extremely cold temperatures before they are freeze dried and smashed into a powder. The powder is then tested for the mercury levels. "A few years ago, someone did a study to show that cicadas have quite a bit of mercury," said Motta. Now, researchers at WHOI will compare the new data with the study from 17 years ago to see if the mercury levels are rising.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
ADPH releases 2025 fish consumption advisories
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — People looking to eat the fish they catch may benefit from reading the 2025 fish consumption advisories. ADPH annually updates the fish consumption advisories based on data gathered by the Alabama Department of Environmental Management from the previous fall. 📲 to stay updated on the go. 📧 to have news sent to your inbox. ADEM, the Tennessee Valley Authority and the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources collected samples of specific fish species to analyze from various bodies of water throughout the state in the fall of 2024. This includes 492 samples from 42 collection stations. ADPH assessed the results to find whether any tested contaminants in the fish could cause potential health effects. The main contaminants in Alabama are: Mercury Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) Perfluoralkyl sulfonate (PFOS) These advisories are issued for specific bodies of water and fish taken from those areas. In reservoirs, advisories apply to waters as far as a boat can be taken upstream to full pool elevations. Recently, ADEM has been putting up signs at many public boat launches with a QR code. The code on the sign can be scanned with a mobile phone and will link to the advisory map. The map can also be found at the ADEM website. Newly issued advisories are the safe amount of fish that can be eaten in a given time, such as meals per week, meals per month or do not eat any. A meal consists of six ounces of cooked fish or eight ounces of raw fish. New and updated consumption advisories released for the 42 bodies of water tested can be found on the ADPH Toxicology website. The advice in the release is offered as a guide for people who want to eat fish they catch from the various bodies of water throughout Alabama. However, no regulations ban the consumption of any of the fish caught within the state, nor is there a risk of an acute toxic episode that could happen from eating any of the fish containing the contaminants, which the State has done tests on. A general rule of thumb is that older, larger fish have eaten more and have been in the water longer, so there is a higher chance for contaminants being in their bodies. A fish consumption advisory can be issued for one or more specific species of fish within a body of water, or an advisory can be extended to include all fish species there. When excess levels of a contaminant are found in a specific species of fish, an advisory is issued for that specific species. When excess levels of a contaminant are found in multiple fish species sampled from a specific body of water, a Do Not Eat Any advisory would be issued. Eating a fish from an area under a Do Not Eat Any advisory may put the consumer at risk for harm. If a species is listed in the advisory, it is safe to assume that a similar species with similar feeding habits should be eaten with caution. For example, if black crappie is listed and white crappie is not, because they are in the same family, all crappie would fall under the listed advisory. To see the full list of contaminated fish in Alabama, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Washington Post
13-05-2025
- General
- Washington Post
Mercury fuels gold mining in Senegal. And it's poisoning the people who use it
KEDOUGOU, Senegal — The quickest way to separate gold from rock, Sadio Camara says, is with a drop of mercury. She empties a dime-sized packet of the silvery liquid into a plastic bucket of muddy sediment outside her home in southeastern Senegal. With bare hands and no mask, she swirls the mixture as her children look on.
Associated Press
13-05-2025
- Health
- Associated Press
Mercury fuels gold mining in Senegal. And it's poisoning the people who use it
KEDOUGOU, Senegal (AP) — The quickest way to separate gold from rock, Sadio Camara says, is with a drop of mercury. She empties a dime-sized packet of the silvery liquid into a plastic bucket of muddy sediment outside her home in southeastern Senegal. With bare hands and no mask, she swirls the mixture as her children look on. 'I know mercury isn't good for your health — that's why I don't drink the water it comes into contact with,' she said. 'I only process small amounts of gold, so there's no danger.' But even small-scale exposure can carry serious risks. Across West Africa, mercury — a potent neurotoxin — remains the dominant method for extracting gold from ore in the region's booming informal mining sector, much of it illegal and unregulated. In Senegal's gold-rich Kedougou region, women like Camara use the metal regularly, often without protective gloves and masks, to make a living. Mercury exposure can cause irreversible brain damage, developmental delays, tremors and loss of vision, hearing and coordination. Once released, it spreads easily through air, water and soil. Particularly after heavy rains, it contaminates rivers, poisons fish and accumulates up the food chain. A 2018 Duke University-led study found mercury levels in soils, sediments and water near artisanal gold mining villages in southeastern Senegal that exceeded safety thresholds set by the World Health Organization and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency by 10 to 100 times. In artisanal mining, mercury is prized for its ability to bind quickly and easily to gold. Miners mix the liquid metal into crushed ore, and the mixture is then heated — often over open flames — to evaporate the mercury and leave behind a lump of gold. The process is cheap, effective and dangerous. 'If it hurt right away, like a knife, people would stop. But the issue is that it takes years for the dangers to manifest,' said Doudou Dramé, president of the Observatoire Territoriale du Secteur Extractif, an organization that advocates for safer conditions for gold miners in Kedougou. 'People are dumping it directly into the river. They're burning it in the open, releasing toxic smoke into the air. It's extremely dangerous.' Artisanal and small-scale gold mining is the largest global source of mercury emissions, even more than the burning of coal, according to the UN Environment Programme. In Senegal alone, artisanal mines are estimated to release between 12 and 16 metric tons of mercury each year. 'Kedougou has rich land — very rich land,' Dramé said. 'Now mercury is everywhere. Our animals consume it, and it comes back to us. Even the soil is no longer fertile.' For women, a life that puts them in mercury's way Along the muddy banks of a rust-colored pond, dozens of women wade knee-deep as they rinse piles of sediment in search of gold. Children dart between mounds of earth while the runoff pools around their feet. With little access to clean water, many women spend long hours in local waterways to work, bathe their children, wash clothes and clean dishes. 'Women are much more exposed than men,' said Modou Goumbala, the monitoring and evaluation manager at La Lumiere, an NGO that supports community development in southeastern Senegal. That exposure can be especially dangerous for pregnant and nursing women. Mercury can cross the placenta, putting fetuses at risk of developmental delays and birth defects. Infants may also absorb the toxin through contaminated breast milk. Inside her kitchen hut not far from the stream, Camara heats a nugget of mercury-laced sediment with a metal spoon over an open flame. The toxic metal evaporates and leaves behind a kernel of gold. There's no mask, no gloves — just the raw materials and her bare hands. Her children stand just a few feet away, watching and breathing the fumes. Camara said she doesn't usually handle the burning herself; that task is typically left to men. But she and other women regularly mix and shape the mercury amalgam with no protection. One of her children suffers from frequent stomachaches, though she hasn't noticed any other symptoms. Still, the risks loom. Why take the risks? Because gold pays'The easiest way to earn money today is gold mining,' Camara said. 'Subsistence agriculture will not provide you enough for food or other needs.' In Senegal, gold processors like Camara typically process between 5 and 10 grams of gold per month, earning the equivalent of $370 to $745 — more than double the national average salary of about $200. Senegal ratified the Minamata Convention on Mercury in 2016, pledging to reduce mercury use and pollution. But the substance remains widely accessible. Most of the country's supply comes from Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso and Ghana, with smaller amounts smuggled from dental clinics in Dakar, according to a 2022 report by the Institute for Security Studies. In 2020, the government promised to build 400 mercury-free gold processing units. So far, only one has been constructed — in Bantaco, about 15 miles from Camara's home. The facility uses gravity to separate gold from ore, eliminating the need for mercury by relying on sluices and shaking tables. During a recent visit, the rusting slab of metal sat unused beneath a corrugated roof. 'People used it for a while, but then they stopped, because one single unit can't cover an entire community,' Goumbala said. 'Naturally, those who were nearby could use it. But for those who are very far away, they can't afford to transport the ore all the way, process it and then go back. It's extra work. That's a problem.' Camara said she tried the unit, but in addition to being far away, it was less effective at isolating gold – some was lost in the process. Repeated efforts to schedule an interview with Senegal's director of artisanal and small-scale mining were unsuccessful. The director later said the department had been suspended. He did not provide a reason. Senegal swore in a new president in 2024, but residents say the problems remain. 'There's a new administration in place, but promises are still just promises,' Goumbala said. He believes the lack of progress is due to limited funding. In an effort to curb pollution, authorities temporarily suspended mining within 500 meters (1,640 feet)of the Faleme River, which cuts through Senegal's gold belt and forms part of the border with Mali. But enforcement is weak as officials struggle to stem the influx of informal miners, many of whom arrive from neighboring countries. Critics say the measure barely scratches the surface of the problem. 'The solution is to install the gold processing units within the communities — at least one per village,' Goumbala said. Even so, he acknowledged the challenges: The machines are expensive, difficult to maintain and require replacement parts that are only available abroad. There's also resistance among miners, who say mercury is more efficient and profitable. 'We need to convince communities that even if they make more money using mercury, in the end, they'll spend that profit on treating illnesses caused by it,' Goumbala said. 'The long-term consequences are far worse.' ___ Follow Annika Hammerschlag on Instagram @ahammergram. ___ The Associated Press receives support from the Walton Family Foundation for coverage of water and environmental policy. The AP is solely responsible for all content. For all of AP's environmental coverage, visit
The Independent
13-05-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Mercury fuels gold mining in Senegal. And it's poisoning the people who use it
The quickest way to separate gold from rock, Sadio Camara says, is with a drop of mercury. She empties a dime-sized packet of the silvery liquid into a plastic bucket of muddy sediment outside her home in southeastern Senegal. With bare hands and no mask, she swirls the mixture as her children look on. 'I know mercury isn't good for your health — that's why I don't drink the water it comes into contact with,' she said. 'I only process small amounts of gold, so there's no danger.' But even small-scale exposure can carry serious risks. Across West Africa, mercury — a potent neurotoxin — remains the dominant method for extracting gold from ore in the region's booming informal mining sector, much of it illegal and unregulated. In Senegal's gold-rich Kedougou region, women like Camara use the metal regularly, often without protective gloves and masks, to make a living. Mercury exposure can cause irreversible brain damage, developmental delays, tremors and loss of vision, hearing and coordination. Once released, it spreads easily through air, water and soil. Particularly after heavy rains, it contaminates rivers, poisons fish and accumulates up the food chain. A 2018 Duke University-led study found mercury levels in soils, sediments and water near artisanal gold mining villages in southeastern Senegal that exceeded safety thresholds set by the World Health Organization and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency by 10 to 100 times. In artisanal mining, mercury is prized for its ability to bind quickly and easily to gold. Miners mix the liquid metal into crushed ore, and the mixture is then heated — often over open flames — to evaporate the mercury and leave behind a lump of gold. The process is cheap, effective and dangerous. 'If it hurt right away, like a knife, people would stop. But the issue is that it takes years for the dangers to manifest,' said Doudou Dramé, president of the Observatoire Territoriale du Secteur Extractif, an organization that advocates for safer conditions for gold miners in Kedougou. ' People are dumping it directly into the river. They're burning it in the open, releasing toxic smoke into the air. It's extremely dangerous.' Artisanal and small-scale gold mining is the largest global source of mercury emissions, even more than the burning of coal, according to the UN Environment Programme. In Senegal alone, artisanal mines are estimated to release between 12 and 16 metric tons of mercury each year. 'Kedougou has rich land — very rich land,' Dramé said. 'Now mercury is everywhere. Our animals consume it, and it comes back to us. Even the soil is no longer fertile.' For women, a life that puts them in mercury's way Along the muddy banks of a rust-colored pond, dozens of women wade knee-deep as they rinse piles of sediment in search of gold. Children dart between mounds of earth while the runoff pools around their feet. With little access to clean water, many women spend long hours in local waterways to work, bathe their children, wash clothes and clean dishes. 'Women are much more exposed than men,' said Modou Goumbala, the monitoring and evaluation manager at La Lumiere, an NGO that supports community development in southeastern Senegal. That exposure can be especially dangerous for pregnant and nursing women. Mercury can cross the placenta, putting fetuses at risk of developmental delays and birth defects. Infants may also absorb the toxin through contaminated breast milk. Inside her kitchen hut not far from the stream, Camara heats a nugget of mercury-laced sediment with a metal spoon over an open flame. The toxic metal evaporates and leaves behind a kernel of gold. There's no mask, no gloves — just the raw materials and her bare hands. Her children stand just a few feet away, watching and breathing the fumes. Camara said she doesn't usually handle the burning herself; that task is typically left to men. But she and other women regularly mix and shape the mercury amalgam with no protection. One of her children suffers from frequent stomachaches, though she hasn't noticed any other symptoms. Still, the risks loom. Why take the risks? Because gold pays 'The easiest way to earn money today is gold mining,' Camara said. 'Subsistence agriculture will not provide you enough for food or other needs.' In Senegal, gold processors like Camara typically process between 5 and 10 grams of gold per month, earning the equivalent of $370 to $745 — more than double the national average salary of about $200. Senegal ratified the Minamata Convention on Mercury in 2016, pledging to reduce mercury use and pollution. But the substance remains widely accessible. Most of the country's supply comes from Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso and Ghana, with smaller amounts smuggled from dental clinics in Dakar, according to a 2022 report by the Institute for Security Studies. In 2020, the government promised to build 400 mercury-free gold processing units. So far, only one has been constructed — in Bantaco, about 15 miles from Camara's home. The facility uses gravity to separate gold from ore, eliminating the need for mercury by relying on sluices and shaking tables. During a recent visit, the rusting slab of metal sat unused beneath a corrugated roof. 'People used it for a while, but then they stopped, because one single unit can't cover an entire community,' Goumbala said. 'Naturally, those who were nearby could use it. But for those who are very far away, they can't afford to transport the ore all the way, process it and then go back. It's extra work. That's a problem.' Camara said she tried the unit, but in addition to being far away, it was less effective at isolating gold – some was lost in the process. Repeated efforts to schedule an interview with Senegal's director of artisanal and small-scale mining were unsuccessful. The director later said the department had been suspended. He did not provide a reason. Senegal swore in a new president in 2024, but residents say the problems remain. 'There's a new administration in place, but promises are still just promises,' Goumbala said. He believes the lack of progress is due to limited funding. In an effort to curb pollution, authorities temporarily suspended mining within 500 meters (1,640 feet)of the Faleme River, which cuts through Senegal's gold belt and forms part of the border with Mali. But enforcement is weak as officials struggle to stem the influx of informal miners, many of whom arrive from neighboring countries. Critics say the measure barely scratches the surface of the problem. 'The solution is to install the gold processing units within the communities — at least one per village,' Goumbala said. Even so, he acknowledged the challenges: The machines are expensive, difficult to maintain and require replacement parts that are only available abroad. There's also resistance among miners, who say mercury is more efficient and profitable. 'We need to convince communities that even if they make more money using mercury, in the end, they'll spend that profit on treating illnesses caused by it,' Goumbala said. 'The long-term consequences are far worse.' ___ Follow Annika Hammerschlag on Instagram @ahammergram. ___
