黄金也许闪闪发光，但开采黄金背后的隐性代价却极具破坏性。

亚马逊研究员、TED Fellow 克劳迪娅·维加揭示了手工黄金开采所造成的汞污染如何毒害当地社区、摧毁雨林，并说明为什么保护地球远比任何宝藏都更加珍贵。

购买黄金背后的隐性代价

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.