Blog

<h3>Illegal Gold Mining in Latin America: Environmental Impact and Economic Drivers.</h3>Peru’s oldest environmental research station has indefinitely suspended work in the Peruvian Amazon because of growing conflicts with illegal gold mining operations. Staff at the Panguana biological research station, located in central Peru, have received death threats from miners who work on nearby rivers and have been attempting to move into the station’s 1600-hectare conservation preserve. Science- Staff at the Panguana biological research station have received death threats.Since 1984, mining with dredges, bulldozers, and other equipment has damaged more than 225 water bodies, deforested 140,000 hectares of land, and affected up to 73 Indigenous communities, according to a 2025 report from Amazon Conservation, a Peruvian nonprofit group.The complete article can be accessed here 👉 <a data-mce-href="https://bruceacosgrove.com/blog-independent-referenced-articles" href="https://bruceacosgrove.com/blog-independent-referenced-articles">Illegal miners have forced Peru’s oldest environmental research station to suspend work.</a>Related Scientific Context: 👉 <a data-mce-href="https://bruceacosgrove.com/mercury-free-botanical-extraction" href="https://bruceacosgrove.com/mercury-free-botanical-extraction" data-mce-selected="inline-boundary">Sustainable Mercury-Free Botanical Gold Recovery</a>&nbsp;

Illegal miners have forced Peru’s oldest environmental research station to suspend work.

<h3>A Review and Sustainable Alternative to Sodium-Based and Cyanide-Containing Gold Leaching Agents - Glycine – Thiosulfate Hybrid System.</h3>Published in the Sustainable Technology eJournal | November 2025, DOI:10.2139/ssrn.5801183.&nbsp;This study reviews the use of sodium-based compounds such as urea, sodium sulfate, sodium chloride, sodium carbonate, and thiosulfate-often formulated with sodium cyanide-as gold leaching agents by artisanal miners, and proposes a greener, more sustainable alternative.This research further advances sustainable hydrometallurgy by developing and validating a glycine–thiosulfate hybrid leaching system as a non-toxic, cyanide- and mercury-free alternative for gold extraction.Glycine–thiosulfate systems can yield 70–90% gold recovery under optimized lab conditions. Effectiveness is ore-dependent (best for oxide and mildly refractory ores).Full references and supporting research are provided in the complete article, A Review and Sustainable Alternative to Sodium-Based and Cyanide-Containing Gold Leaching Agents - Glycine – Thiosulfate Hybrid System accessed here 👉 DOI:<a data-mce-href="https://bruceacosgrove.com/scientific-publications" href="https://bruceacosgrove.com/scientific-publications">10.2139/ssrn.5801183</a> →Related Scientific Context: 👉&nbsp;<a data-mce-href="https://bruceacosgrove.com/mercury-free-botanical-extraction" href="https://bruceacosgrove.com/mercury-free-botanical-extraction">Mercury-free botanical extraction systems for gold recovery</a> → Topics: chemistry, low-toxicity extraction, mercury-free gold recovery, sustainable mining.

Glycine–Thiosulfate Leaching: A Mercury and Cyanide-Free Approach to Gold Extraction

<h3>The State of Global Air 2025 report provides a comprehensive analysis of data for air quality and health impacts for countries around the world.</h3>The analysis finds that 36% of the world's population is exposed to levels of PM2.5 pollution above the least stringent interim target of 35 μg/m3. About 1/3 - almost 2.6 billion people - are exposed to pollution from burning solid fuels for cooking at home.&nbsp;95% of air pollution attributable deaths in adults over the age of 60 are due to noncommunicable diseases like COPD, dementia, diabetes, heart disease, and lung disease.<blockquote>86% of global deaths were attributable to air pollution in 2023!</blockquote>The complete article can be accessed here 👉 <a data-mce-href="https://bruceacosgrove.com/blog-independent-referenced-articles" href="https://bruceacosgrove.com/blog-independent-referenced-articles">Global Air Quality 2025: Health and Environmental Implications</a>Related Scientific Context: 👉 <a data-mce-href="https://bruceacosgrove.com/blog" href="https://bruceacosgrove.com/blog" data-mce-selected="inline-boundary">BACosgrove | Blog</a>

Global Air Quality 2025: Health and Environmental Implications

<h3>The Impact of Mercury on Artisanal Mining Communities</h3>Artisanal mining communities often rely on traditional methods for extracting precious metals. While these practices can provide essential livelihoods, they also pose significant health and environmental risks, particularly due to the use of mercury. Understanding the impact of mercury in these settings is crucial for both communities and policymakers.Mercury is commonly used in artisanal gold mining to separate gold from ore. This process, known as amalgamation, involves mixing mercury by hand with crushed ore to form a gold-mercury amalgam. The amalgam is then heated, vaporizing the mercury and leaving behind pure gold.While effective, this method exposes miners and their communities to mercury vapor, a potent neurotoxin. The health implications are severe, affecting the nervous, digestive, and immune systems, as well as causing developmental issues in children.<h3>Environmental Consequences</h3>The environmental impact of mercury in artisanal mining is profound. Mercury released into the air eventually settles into water bodies, where it can transform into methylmercury, a highly toxic compound. This contaminates fish and other aquatic life, impacting entire ecosystems and food chains.Communities relying on these water sources for drinking, farming, and fishing are particularly at risk. Long-term exposure to mercury-contaminated water and food can lead to chronic health problems, further exacerbating poverty and health issues in these regions.<h3>Economic and Social Impacts</h3>Despite its dangers, mercury remains prevalent in artisanal mining due to its low cost and ease of use. However, the economic benefits are often short-lived. Health problems caused by mercury exposure can lead to reduced productivity and increased medical expenses, undermining the financial stability of these communities.Socially, the presence of mercury in mining communities can lead to increased tension. As awareness of its dangers grows, conflicts may arise between those who rely on mercury for their livelihood and those advocating for safer practices.<h3>Efforts to Mitigate Mercury Use</h3>International efforts, such as the Minamata Convention on Mercury, aim to reduce mercury use and emissions worldwide. For artisanal mining communities, this involves introducing safer alternatives and educating miners about the health risks associated with mercury.Organizations are working to implement mercury-free technologies and provide training on sustainable mining practices. These initiatives not only improve health outcomes but also promote environmental conservation and economic resilience.<h3>The Path Forward</h3>Addressing the impact of mercury on artisanal mining communities requires a multi-faceted approach. Governments, NGOs, and local leaders must collaborate to create policies that balance economic needs with health and environmental considerations.Empowering communities through education and access to resources is essential for fostering sustainable change. By reducing reliance on mercury, artisanal mining communities can work towards a healthier and more sustainable future.Related Scientific Context:👉 <a data-mce-href="https://bruceacosgrove.com/botanical-inflammation-compounds" href="https://bruceacosgrove.com/botanical-inflammation-compounds" data-mce-selected="inline-boundary">Botanical compounds for inflammation and oxidative stress regulation</a> → 👉 <a data-mce-href="https://bruceacosgrove.com/mercury-free-botanical-extraction" href="https://bruceacosgrove.com/mercury-free-botanical-extraction">Mercury-free botanical extraction systems for gold recovery</a> → 👉 <a data-mce-href="https://bruceacosgrove.com/scientific-publications" href="https://bruceacosgrove.com/scientific-publications">Peer-reviewed scientific publications on botanical chemistry</a> →

Mercury Contamination in Small-Scale Mining: A Public Health Perspective

<h3>Why Illegal Gold Mining is Overtaking Cocaine as the Drug of Choice in Latin America.</h3>In July, Peru’s then foreign minister Elmer Schialer said the illegal gold economy in Peru was seven times bigger than the cocaine trade.The Trump administration’s drone strikes against boats allegedly bringing illicit drugs to the US come amid an explosion in the amount of cocaine being produced in Colombia and Peru.But there is a new – and lethal – factor that is turbo-charging production – especially in Peru: the relationship between coca cultivation and illicit gold mining.“Criminal organizations have found that illegal gold mining is a safer and more lucrative asset in which they can invest money from drug trafficking, and, in turn, launder the assets more easily,” according to Collyns, author of the forthcoming “Blood Gold: The Shocking True Story of the Amazon Gold Rush.”The complete article can be accessed by clicking 👉 <a data-mce-href="https://bruceacosgrove.com/blog-independent-referenced-articles" href="https://bruceacosgrove.com/blog-independent-referenced-articles">Why illegal gold mining is overtaking cocaine as the drug of choice for traffickers in Latin America</a> →Related Scientific Context:👉 <a data-mce-href="https://bruceacosgrove.com/mercury-free-botanical-extraction" href="https://bruceacosgrove.com/mercury-free-botanical-extraction">Mercury-free botanical extraction systems for gold recovery</a> → 👉 <a data-mce-href="https://bruceacosgrove.com/scientific-publications" href="https://bruceacosgrove.com/scientific-publications">Peer-reviewed scientific publications on botanical chemistry</a> →

Illegal Gold Mining in Latin America: Economic Drivers and Environmental Impact

<h3>"Ultraprocessed Foods Linked to Colorectal Cancer Risk in Women Under 50."</h3>Colorectal cancer rates have been mysteriously climbing among people under 50. In a study published today in JAMA Oncology, Dr. Chan and his colleagues suggest that ultraprocessed foods — which have increased in our diets over the decades — may be playing a role.He and his team looked at women in their 20s, 30s and 40s.....<blockquote>The study’s findings track with recent research on the alarming rise of the cancer in younger adults.</blockquote>The complete article can be accessed by clicking 👉 <a data-mce-href="https://bruceacosgrove.com/blog-independent-referenced-articles" href="https://bruceacosgrove.com/blog-independent-referenced-articles" data-mce-selected="inline-boundary">Ultraprocessed Foods Linked to Colorectal Cancer Risk in Women Under 50</a> →Related Scientific Context:<a data-mce-href="https://bruceacosgrove.com/botanical-inflammation-compounds" href="https://bruceacosgrove.com/botanical-inflammation-compounds">Botanical compounds for inflammation &amp; oxidative stress regulation</a> → <a data-mce-href="https://bruceacosgrove.com/scientific-publications" href="https://bruceacosgrove.com/scientific-publications">Peer-reviewed scientific publications on botanical chemistry</a> →

Ultra-Processed Foods and Cancer Risk: Evidence from Recent Studies

BACosgrove Scientific Researcher, Inc.

The Company is a science-driven research and innovation incorporated Company advancing sustainable chemistry, environmental health solutions, and clean-technology applications. Founded by chemist and entrepreneur Bruce A. Cosgrove, the company develops and validates evidence-based alternatives that reduce toxic exposures while supporting circular-economy and ESG-aligned outcomes across industrial and wellness sectors.

BACosgrove | Blog

Illegal miners have forced Peru’s oldest environmental re...

Glycine–Thiosulfate Leaching: A Mercury and Cyanide-Free ...

Global Air Quality 2025: Health and Environmental Implica...

Mercury Contamination in Small-Scale Mining: A Public Hea...

Illegal Gold Mining in Latin America: Economic Drivers an...

Ultra-Processed Foods and Cancer Risk: Evidence from Rece...