In Peru, mercury leaves a toxic footprint on those who depend on a river
Mongabay reviewed nearly three decades of scientific research on the impact of heavy metals and traveled to several Amazonian communities to track the course of mercury contamination.
MADRE DE DIOS, Peru — Gladys Ordoñez, a mother from the Shintuya Indigenous community, recounts her daughter Bayolet's experience with mercury exposure. Bayolet, now 16, was diagnosed with mercury poisoning when she was five years old. She had fainted twice at school, a symptom that puzzled the family until mercury was identified as the culprit.
The mercury contamination originated from illegal gold mining upstream, which had been releasing the toxic metal into the Madre de Dios River, a primary source of food for the community. The community had dismissed initial warnings, believing their gold-free practices negated the risk. However, the mercury from the river traveled downstream, contaminating the fish that the families consumed.
Despite the diagnosis, Bayolet's health issues persist, as she currently deals with fatigue and weakness, symptoms stemming from her mercury exposure. Her wish is simple: to complete her schooling and pursue a nursing education, a goal dimmed by the constant challenges of her health.
Written by urgent.news from Mongabay's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
