Mercury poisoning crisis: gold mining devastates health of indigenous women in nicaragua

A alarming new study has revealed that Indigenous women in Nicaragua are suffering from dangerous mercury poisoning linked to small-scale gold mining operations in their communities. Research conducted by the International Pollutants Elimination Network (IPEN) found that an overwhelming 80% of women tested had mercury levels exceeding safe limits established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The study examined hair samples from 50 Indigenous women of childbearing age, between 18 and 44 years old, living in the communities of Li Auhbra and Li Lamn along Nicaragua’s Wangki River. These communities, located on the northern Caribbean coast in Waspam municipality, are surrounded by small-scale gold mining operations that use mercury to extract gold from ore—a common but highly toxic practice.

The health implications are severe and long-lasting. Mercury exposure can cause irreversible damage to developing fetuses, even months after the mother’s initial exposure. Children born to affected mothers face risks of neurological impairment, reduced IQ, kidney damage, and cardiovascular problems that can persist throughout their lives. The EPA’s safety threshold of 1 part per million (ppm) was exceeded by most participants, with 98% showing levels above an even more protective proposed limit of 0.58 ppm.

While most women in these communities rely on traditional livelihoods like agriculture, fishing, and hunting, some work directly as gold washers, handling mercury regularly. However, researchers found that even women not directly involved in mining operations are being poisoned through exposure from family members who work with the toxic metal, highlighting how this environmental contamination is affecting entire Indigenous communities.