Pure Earth’s Global Mercury Program works around the world to eliminate mercury use and clean up contaminated sites to reduce mercury poisoning and protect the health of communities, especially children. Since artisanal and small-scale (ASGM) gold mining is responsible for about 30% of global mercury emissions, Pure Earth’s program focuses on these activities. Here’s a look at the program’s success, by the numbers:
EASTERN EUROPE/CENTRAL ASIA
Artisanal gold miners attend Pure Earth mercury-free training in Mongolia
- 1100 miners trained in mercury-free techniques.
- 3750 children, community members, health workers and government officials educated.
- Miners, especially women, report increased earnings.
Learn more:
- A Mother’s Story: Mongolian “Gold Ninja” Goes Mercury-Free For Her Children
- Mongolia Update: Revisiting Miners We Trained
- Mongolia Teaching Van Trailblazes A Path To Mercury-Free Mining
LATIN AMERICA
Pure Earth is working with CINCIA to restore rainforest stripped by gold mining in the Amazon.
- 310 miners trained in mercury-free techniques
- 550 mining community members and health workers educated
- 110 mercury sites identified and assessed
- 3.5 hectares of rainforest stripped by gold mining restored
Learn more:
- In Photos: Teaching Artisanal Gold Miners To Extract Gold Without Mercury
- Meet The Maqques: A Family Of Gold Miners Going Mercury Free So They Can Work Together Safely
- Transforming The Chichiqueros Gold Mining Community In Peru’s Rainforest Into A Mercury-Free Model
- Peru: Emerging From A State of Emergency In The Labyrinth
- In Peru – A Path Of Gold And Destruction
- Rainforest Reforestation Brings Degraded Mining Sites Back to Life, Provide Models of Hope
- Restoring Rainforest Stripped By Gold Mining in the Amazon
ASIA
Women gold miners in Indonesia are being empowered to make more money with mercury-free gold
- 200 miners trained in mercury-free techniques
- 1500 government stakeholders, health workers, miners and community members educated
- 85 mercury sites identified and assessed
- 100 retorts/70 water-box-condensers distributed, reducing mercury emissions by 4750 kgs annually
- Women’s Working Group organized to give artisanal women miners opportunities to earn more with mercury-free gold
AFRICA
A child miner in Africa. Photo: Larry C. Price
- 250 mercury sites identified and assessed
- 10 communities trained to reduce mercury use
