January 2010
With high gold prices fueling a global gold rush, millions of people in the developing world are turning to small-scale gold mining. In many countries, including Colombia, miners are putting themselves and those who live nearby at risk by using highly toxic mercury in the refining process.
Shefa Siegel reports from his recent visit to the north of Antioquia department in Colombia, where illegal and disorderly gold mining contributes to the region having world´s highest indices of mercury polution.