Ghana Mining Study Reveals Mercury Levels 130 Times Above Safety Thresholds

Ghana's artisanal gold mining sector has experienced a significant boom, generating record exports valued at $6.3 billion in the first eight months of 2025. However, this rapid expansion has led to dangerous environmental and health consequences, with a government-backed study by Pure Earth and Ghana's Environmental Protection Authority revealing mercury contamination in soil exceeding safe limits by up to 134 times, and arsenic levels surpassing safety thresholds by over 4,000%. These toxic metals pose serious health risks, including cancers, kidney failure, and neurological disorders, with increasing cases of kidney disorders observed among children in mining areas. Despite government efforts to regulate the sector and separate legal from illegal mining, enforcement remains challenging, and illegal activities continue to fuel pollution. The contamination extends beyond soil to water, crops, and fish, threatening food security and public health through multiple exposure pathways. Urgent intervention is needed to mitigate these hazards and protect affected communities.