![]() Michelle is one of many: in the Philippines and globally, artisanal and small-scale gold mining is the largest sector of mercury use. One was 15-year-old “Michelle,” who had started processing gold with mercury when she was eight and began suffering from spasms, another symptom of mercury poisoning, at 9. In the village of Malaya, in Camarines Norte province, I observed how light-grey, mercury-contaminated tailings from gold processing plants flowed straight into the river where children were bathing and working. I have seen distressing levels of mercury pollution in the Philippines with my own eyes. Mercury is a highly toxic metal that attacks the nervous system, can result in life-long disability, and is very harmful to children. In particular, there’s no evidence for increased homosexuality in humans resulting from mercury poisoning, despite several long-term studies. Saludes for Human Rights Watch Mercury-contaminated water flows into the Bosigon River in Malaya, Camarines Norte. Saludes for Human Rights Watch “Albert,” 16 Saludes for Human Rights Watch “Reynaldo,” age 15 Saludes for Human Rights Watch Mercury is mixed with gold ore. Saludes for Human Rights Watch Pure mercury in a wooden pan used to process gold. ![]() ![]() Saludes for Human Rights Watch "Michelle," age 15 Saludes for Human Rights Watch Emerita Pernicita shows a picture of her 17-year-old son, Nel, who died in an underground pit with his adult brother in Malaya, Camarines Norte. Saludes for Human Rights Watch “Peter,” 11, works at an underwater mining site in Santa Milagrosa, Jose Panganiban. Saludes for Human Rights Watch An adult miner gets ready to mine underwater in Santa Milagrosa, Jose Panganiban. Saludes for Human Rights Watch “Joseph,” 16 Saludes for Human Rights Watch Children pan for gold along the Bosigon River in Malaya, Camarines Norte. Saludes for Human Rights Watch A boy and his father shovel ore from the Bosigon River in Malaya, Camarines Norte. Saludes for Human Rights Watch An underground mine in Malaya, Camarines Norte. “Peter,” 11, works at an underwater mining site in Santa Milagrosa, Jose Panganiban. ![]()
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