New analysis maps mercury threat to 951 Amazon communities in three countries
For the first time, Mongabay Latam analyzed 39 scientific studies published between 1997 and 2024 that confirm that 249 Indigenous and riverside communities in Peru, Bolivia and Brazil have been exposed to mercury contamination. Nearly all of them exceed the limits considered safe by the World Health Organization. The stories reported by three journalistic teams […]
New analysis reveals that 951 Amazon communities in Peru, Bolivia and Brazil are threatened by mercury contamination, exposing them to potential health risks. Mongabay Latam examined 39 scientific studies from 1997 to 2024, confirming that 249 Indigenous and riverside communities in the three countries have been exposed to mercury levels exceeding the World Health Organization's safety standards.
Three investigative teams in the field reported the detrimental effects on schools, breastfeeding mothers, and numerous Indigenous communities.
The analysis traced mercury along 2,763 kilometers of three Amazonian rivers: Madre de Dios in Peru, Beni in Bolivia, and Madeira in Brazil. Another 702 communities located within two kilometers of the studied rivers are at risk and remain uncertain due to the lack of assessments. Gladys Ordoñez, a resident of the Indigenous community of Shintuya in Peru, recounted her daughter Bayolet experiencing fainting spells at school at age five due to potential mercury exposure.
In Brazil's Karipuna territory, near the Madeira River, community leader Adriano Karipuna described similar health issues among children, including congenital heart conditions and breathing difficulties. In Bolivia, Limberth Miquere, the corregidor of a community, expressed frustration at repeatedly seeking medical assistance for mercury-related health concerns. This widespread problem has left Indigenous communities across the Amazon region exhausted and desperate for a solution.
Written by urgent.news from Mongabay's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
