Amazon Tree Rings Reveal Mercury Pollution from Illegal Gold Mining
Ficus insipida tree cores in the Peruvian Amazon provide a cost-effective method to track mercury emissions, supporting efforts to combat pollution from artisanal gold mining.
- Research demonstrates that Ficus insipida tree rings can serve as natural biomonitors, mapping mercury emissions over time and space in the Peruvian Amazon.
- Mercury concentrations in tree bolewood are highest near artisanal gold mining sites, highlighting the environmental impact of these operations.
- This innovative tree ring analysis offers a scalable and affordable alternative to traditional mercury monitoring methods, which are costly and difficult to deploy in remote areas.
- The findings support international efforts like the UN Minamata Convention by providing a tool to monitor and reduce mercury pollution globally.
- Artisanal gold mining, a major global source of mercury emissions, poses significant risks to both environmental health and human populations in affected regions.
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