Deep within the Sierra Gorda mountains of central Mexico, miner Hugo Flores navigates tight tunnels, employing a drill to extract one of Earth’s most harmful elements: mercury. The mountains, known for their biodiversity, have become the epicenter of a burgeoning mercury boom, fueled by skyrocketing international gold prices. This demand for mercury, a toxic element integral to illegal gold mining, has resulted in soaring prices, reaching up to $350 per kilogram, drastically increasing from just $20 in 2011.
As a result, thousands of miners and their families have been thrust into this hazardous work, weighed down by the stark reality of poverty in towns like San Joaquin in the Queretaro state. Some view this perilous occupation as their best, if not only, means of survival. “It’s a way of life here,” Flores states, highlighting the precarious choice miners face: risking their health for income or fleeing to the U.S. for better opportunities.
The extraction process of mercury involves following veins of cinnabar deep underground, transporting heavy bags of ore back to the surface, and subjecting them to heat in wood-fired brick ovens. This results in the release of mercury vapor, which is then condensed back into liquid form. Mexico, now the second-largest mercury producer worldwide, reportedly yields around 200 tons annually, much of which is trafficked to neighboring countries like Peru and across the Amazon, exacerbating environmental and health crises in those regions.
The global drive to eliminate mercury mining has inadvertently intensified the demand for mercury extracted from these artisanal mines, as traditional sources have diminished. Fernando Díaz-Barriga, a medical researcher who investigates mercury poisoning among miners, noted the desperation of laborers who, despite understanding the risks, opt to extract mercury in hopes of providing for their families.
As these miners toil, reports reveal that their living environment is becoming increasingly toxic. High levels of mercury contamination have been found in children, women, and the surrounding ecology, prompting concerns about long-term health repercussions such as neurological damage and developmental delays. Miners often dismiss the risks, attributing health declines to misdiagnosed conditions, while some are acutely aware of their deteriorating health due to mercury exposure.
Given the precarious economic landscape of the area, the influx of money from mercury mining has begun to prompt local improvements, yet at a significant cost. Families are increasingly torn between economic necessity and the very real dangers that accompany mining. Local lawyer and researcher Izarelly Rosillo, who has experienced mercury poisoning herself, expressed the duality of mercury’s role in the region’s development, stating, “Though that comes with collateral damages.”
As international efforts to curb mercury-related activities evolve, many miners worry that stricter regulations could push operations underground, increasing the involvement of organized crime in an already dangerous field. The fear is that bans could lead to a black market for mercury, which might not only jeopardize their livelihoods but also worsen the environmental degradation in protected areas like the Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve. This region, home to endangered species and diverse ecosystems, faces potential destruction from continued mining activities.
Government responses to the mercury problem have been criticized as insufficient. Although there was an agreement under a U.N. convention to phase out mercury mining and aid miners in transitioning to other occupations, many report a lack of support and resources. Flores and others are skeptical that the long-term solutions being proposed will effectively address their immediate need for income.
As the mercury boom continues, both local miners and environmental advocates remain entrenched in a complex battle over health, livelihood, and environmental stewardship, highlighting the dire interplay between economic hardship and ecological preservation.
