Cablegate: Update On the Mercury Problem in Brazil, Results

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS BRASILIA 001042

SIPDIS

STATE PASS EPA FOR CAM HILL-MACON AND S.HOFFMAN
STATE FOR OES/PCI
STATE FOR OES/ENV JOHN THOMPSON
STATE FOR WHA/EPSC - LALLEN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV TBIO PGOV ECON XR BR
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON THE MERCURY PROBLEM IN BRAZIL, RESULTS
OF RESEARCH IN STATE OF PARA

1. Summary: On April 13, 2005, the Brazilian Ministry of
Science and Technology released the results of research
completed by their Mineral Technology Center (CETEM) aimed
at determining the level of mercury contamination of the
fish in the waters of the Tapajos river, the principle
source of food for the residents of the state of Para. The
study revealed that at least 50 percent of the gold miners
in the region have health problems caused in part by mercury
contamination. The study outlines how mercury contamination
resulting from the mining process have destroyed the health
of many in the community and harmed the environment.

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The Study
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2. The study Global Mercury Project - Brazil - Removal of
Barriers to the Introduction of Cleaner Artisanal Gold
Mining and Extraction Technologies, was conducted and funded
by CETEM and Evandro Chagas Institute (IEC) and coordinated
by GEF and the UN. Initiated in 2003, Brazil was one of six
countries studied. Two mining areas in the Tapajos River
Basin were selected in Brazil - one phase studied the
impact on the environment and the other focused on damage to
the health of the people of the community.

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Risks to Humans
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3. The study revealed that 65 percent of fish samples
collected had a mercury concentration above accepted WHO
levels, reaching as high as 40 percent above. Of the 700
people examined, 50 percent had elevated mercury levels in
their bodies.

4. Another study carried out by IEC showed that 60 percent
of newborns in Itaituba (a city along the Tapajos River)
born between February and December 2002 suffered impacts of
mercury contamination. In the 1980s this region was one of
the largest gold mining sites in the country.

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GOB Response
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5. The results of the study were discussed in a conference
held in Brasilia on April 13, organized by the Brazilian
Ministry of Science and Technology. Many proposals to
alleviate this program were discussed, including the most
obvious of tougher enforcement, since the use of mercury in
gold mining is forbidden under Brazilian law. The only
measure officially announced was the launch of a public
information campaign, targeted towards local miners, on the
dangers of the use of mercury in gold mining.

DANILOVICH

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