Name: The hidden cost of buying gold
Uploaded: 2025-10-08T14:30:35Z
Duration: 6 min 44 s
Description: Gold may glitter, but the hidden cost of mining it is devastating. Amazon researcher and TED Fellow Claudia Vega exposes how mercury pollution from artisanal gold mining poisons local communities and destroys rainforests — and shows why protecting the planet is far more valuable than any treasure.

Gold may glitter, but the hidden cost of mining it is devastating. Amazon researcher and TED Fellow Claudia Vega exposes how mercury pollution from artisanal gold mining poisons local communities and destroys rainforests — and shows why protecting the planet is far more valuable than any treasure. 

The hidden cost of buying gold

Artisanal gold mining releases around 1,400 tons of mercury into the environment every year, poisoning rivers, wildlife, and people across the globe. Vast stretches of the Amazon have been left barren, resembling deserts or even moonscapes, stripped of trees and life. Mercury silently accumulates in fish, harms local communities, and travels as far as the Arctic, showing how all ecosystems are connected. Protecting forests proves more valuable than any treasure extracted from them.

Gold’s Shine Masks Mercury’s Deadly Toll on Rainforests

Mercury from artisanal gold mining contaminates ecosystems and communities across the globe, with 1,400 tons released into the environment each year. Vast tracts of Amazon rainforest have been destroyed, leaving behind barren landscapes and toxic food chains. Mercury’s neurological effects often appear years later, impacting memory, development, and even future generations. The quest for gold drives hidden harm that ripples far beyond the mining sites.

Gold’s True Price Is Poisoned Forests And Silent Suffering

Mercury used in artisanal gold mining contaminates rivers, poisons communities, and deforests vast stretches of the Amazon. Nearly 1,400 tons of mercury are released each year, traveling far beyond the mining sites and reaching places as remote as the Arctic. The damage is not just environmental; mercury is a potent neurotoxin that builds up in fish, threatening the health of Indigenous peoples who depend on them for food. While gold brings profit, it leaves devastation that echoes through ecosystems and generations.