Mercury threatens over 160 communities in Bolivia’s Beni River basin

Mongabay's reporting along Bolivia's Beni River found that residents of communities like Puerto Yumani, Carmen Soledad, and Puerto Motor rely on fish as their primary food source even though local species carry mercury from upstream illegal gold mining. Researchers sampled 533 people across 36 communities and found all had mercury levels above World Health Organization limits, while 15 commonly eaten fish species tested positive for mercury in their tissue.

Community leaders describe residents suffering vomiting, fevers, and loss of appetite without any explanation from authorities, while enforcement against illegal mining goes unaddressed. One corregidora recalled a single visit from a medical team in 2019 that confirmed contamination but offered little beyond basic assistance.

Experts say mercury dumped into rivers during gold processing accumulates in fish and then in the people who eat them, causing damage to the nervous system, kidneys, and fetal development that worsens with continued exposure.

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