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Article: Mercury exposure in French Guiana: levels and determinants.
- Article from:
- Archives of Environmental Health
- Article date:
- July 1, 1998
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1998 Heldref Publications. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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PRODUCTION of gold in French Guiana started in the 1850s. Production decreased after World War II, but recently gold-mining activities have increased. Over time, an estimated 200 tons of gold have been produced in French Guiana, and 280 tons of mercury have been released into the environment.[1] In addition, one must factor in the regional mercury pollution resulting from gold-mining activities throughout the Amazon basin.
Measurements of the environment (i.e., soil and sediments) and food (i.e., fish and game) attest to the presence of mercury--at times above recommended levels[2]--in most parts of French Guiana. In 1994, the authors sought to obtain a ...