Atmospheric Mercury from Gold Mining Taints African Food Supply, Research Reveals
Scientists have discovered mercury from artisanal gold mining enters food crops directly through the air rather than soil. The findings reveal previously underestimated health risks for communities dependent on local agriculture near mining operations across Africa and beyond.
Breakthrough Research Reveals New Contamination Pathway
According to a recent study published in the journal Biogeosciences, mercury pollution from artisanal and small-scale gold mining operations is contaminating food crops primarily through atmospheric uptake rather than soil absorption as previously assumed. The international research team, led by scientists from Queens University and the University of Lagos, documented this troubling phenomenon in a Nigerian farming community located near mining activities.