Mercury concentrations in tree rings may enable trees to be ‘witnesses’ of illegal gold mining activities in the Amazon

For hundreds of years, the Amazon has been exploited for its gold. Today, the precious metal is just as sought after, but the remaining tiny gold particles are much harder to find. Mining often happens in artisanal and small-scale mining operations that release mercury (Hg) into the air, polluting the environment and harming human health.

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