In Brazil’s Amazon, scientists are investigating a possible link between mercury pollution from illegal gold mining and neurological disabilities in Indigenous children.
The research focuses on the Munduruku community, where at least 36 children live with unexplained disorders such as muscle spasms and difficulty moving. Parents suspect contamination in their rivers and fish.
Mercury is used in artisanal gold mining to extract gold from sediment. It enters waterways and accumulates in fish—key food sources for these communities. Scientists say they’ve found mercury levels five times above safe limits in pregnant women.
Researchers are now tracking 176 pregnant women and their babies in a long-term study. They hope to prove a direct causal link, though they note that other factors like infections, genetics and nutrition complicate the findings.
Despite a crackdown on illegal mining by Brazil’s government, mercury contamination may cause lasting harm. Scientists warn that unchecked exposure could affect generations of Indigenous people.
