Amazon fish polluted with high levels of mercury due to illegal mining: Study

According to a new study, about one-third of fish in Brazil's Amazon state of Amapa have high levels of mercury concentration caused by illegal mining. 

According to international media reports, scientists from World Wildlife Fund’s Brazil office and Brazilian research institutes have found alarming levels of mercury in more than 400 fish collected in five regions of Amapa. ir findings were published in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 

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Levels surpassed safety limits

With mercury levels surpassed safety limits in 77.6% of carnivorous fish, 20% of omnivores, and 2.4% of herbivores, researchers found fish in region unfit for human consumption. 

As per study, consumption of more than 200gm of se fish species could be lethal. Conservationist Marcelo Oliveira of WWF-Brazil was reported blaming illegal gold mining in region for high levels of mercury in fish. As per reports, he said that recent findings highlight level of destruction being caused by illegal gold mining in Amazon.

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has been time and again criticised for loss of protected lands in Amazon, with forest covers being cleared for mining and agricultural activity. Researchers have warned that large scale human activities will accelerate destruction of world’s biggest rainforest. 

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