Overexploitation of illegal mining in the Amazon has resulted in high levels of mercury in fish

Amapa, Brazil's Amazon state, is dangerous for human consumption because nearly a third of fish contain high levels of mercury due to illegal mining, according to a new study.
scientists from WWF Brazil and three Brazilian research institutions found that mercury levels reached alarming levels in more than 400 fish collected in five areas of the Amapa region bordering French Guiana.
study came from a river system near an environmental protection zone.
"This level exceeds safety standards in 77.6 per cent of carnivorous fish, 20 per cent of omnivores and 2.4 per cent of herbivores," the study, published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, said.
species with the highest mercury concentrations are among the most widely consumed in the region.
WWF says eating more than 200 grams (7 ounces) of these species poses a health risk.
, an environmentalist with WWF Brazil, said the region's high mercury levels were caused by illegal gold mining.
study sheds light on the extent of the damage caused by illegal gold mining in the Amazon.
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has been criticised for pushing for the opening of protected land in the Amazon for mining and agricultural activities.
critics say it will only accelerate the destruction of the world's largest rainforest.
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