River transport of mercury from artisanal and small-scale gold mining and risks for dietary mercury exposure in Madre de Dios, Peru.

Published in Environ. Sci.: Processes Impacts Vol. 17(2):478-487 
Authors

Diringer, S.E., Feingold, B.J., Ortiz, E.J., Gallis, J.A., Araújo-Flores, J.M., Berky, A., Pan, W.K.Y. and Hsu-Kim, H.
Publication year 2015
DOI https://doi.org/10.1039/c4em00567h
Affiliations
  • Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Pratt School of Engineering,Duke University, 121 Hudson Hall, Box 90287, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
  • Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, 450 Research Dr, Durham, NC27710, USA
  • Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, 310 Trent Dr, Durham, NC 27710, USA
  • Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Duke University Medical Center, DUMC Box 2721, Durham, NC 27710, USA
  • Department of Environmental Biology and Public Health, University of Huelva, Campus El Carmen 21071, Huelva, Spain
IAI Program

CRN3
IAI Project CRN3036
Keywords
mercury
artisanal and small-scale gold mining
Madre de Dios
Peru

Abstract

Artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) is a major contributor to deforestation and the largest anthropogenic source of atmospheric mercury worldwide. Despite significant information on the direct health impacts of mercury to ASGM miners, the impact of mercury contamination on downstream communities has not been well characterized, particularly in Peru's Madre de Dios region. In this area, ASGM has increased significantly since 2000 and has led to substantial political and social controversy. This research examined the spatial distribution and transport of mercury through the Madre de Dios River with distance from ASGM activity. This study also characterized risks for dietary mercury exposure to local residents who depend on fish from the river. River sediment, suspended solids from the water column, and fish samples were collected in 2013 at 62 sites near 17 communities over a 560 km stretch of the Madre de Dios River and its major tributaries. In areas downstream of known ASGM activity, mercury concentrations in sediment, suspended solids, and fish within the Madre de Dios River were elevated relative to locations upstream of mining. Fish tissue mercury concentrations were observed at levels representing a public health threat, with greater than one-third of carnivorous fish exceeding the international health standard of 0.5 mg kg-1. This study demonstrates that communities located hundreds of kilometers downstream of ASGM activity, including children and indigenous populations who may not be involved in mining, are at risk of dietary mercury exposure that exceed acceptable body burdens. This report represents the first systematic study of the region to aid policy decision-making related to ASGM activities in Peru.