THE DIRTY

GOLD CRISIS
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Contents:
Abstract 2
Why Dirty Gold is a Global Problem 2

Environmental Consequences 2

Humanitarian Crisis 3

Solution to the Dirty Gold Crisis 4

How Government Action Will Stop Dirty Gold 5

Conclusion 5

Citations 6

Figures:
Figure 1 3

Figure 2 4
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Abstract
Considering the immense value of gold, it is no surprise that many are willing to immorally
exploit both people and the environment in order to obtain it. This exploitative practice is
commonly known as the “dirty gold” industry. Despite the issue being relatively unknown by the
general public, the scale of the issue is on a gigantic scale. It is estimated that more than 90%
gold is mined using highly toxic chemicals such as mercury and cyanide. The most direct
solution to stop this industry is for world governments to take action, such as banning the import
of dirty gold, and providing support to the law enforcement of countries where this mining is
taking palace.

Why Dirty Gold is a Global Problem

Environmental Consequences
The first major problem that arises from dirty gold is the detrimental impact irresponsible mining
has on the environment. The most direct effect is the dumping of toxic materials into water
sources. The biproducts of the mining process can contain dangerous chemicals such as arsenic,
lead, mercury, petroleum, acid, and cyanide. The contaminated wastewater has an extremely
damaging effect on both the environment, and communities living near the mine. Not only are
the chemicals in the wastewater acutely toxic, the heavy metal contaminants such as lead and
mercury persist in the environment and remain toxic for decades.
The environmental impact of dirty gold goes beyond the dumping of toxic chemicals. Another
impact is widespread habitat destruction. This can include widespread deforestation (as shown in
the image below). Not only has gold mining accounted for as much as 90% of deforestation
along the Guiana Shield, but it is also shown that the mining process seriously inhibits the ability
of the Amazon forests to regrow. This deforestation compounds the issue of carbon pollution by
reducing the capacity of carbon the rainforest is able to absorb. The massive carbon footprint of
this type of gold mining significantly contributes to climate change; affecting not only the
environments where the gold itself is mined, but the entire world.
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Figure 1
Goldmine deforestation
https://theconversation.c
om/gold-mining-leaves-
deforested-amazon-land-
Humanitarian Crisis
Not only is the environment exploited and poisoned due to dirty gold, the workers of the mines
also face countless abuses. Due to economic hardship in much of the world, many people are
forced into working for illegal and exploitative gold mining operations. For example, in the
largely impoverished nation of Peru, many people turn to gold cartels in an attempt to pull
themselves out of poverty. However, these cartels abuse their workers with little to no
intervention from the Peruvian government. Not only is the health of the workers jeopardized by
the toxic mining process, gold cartels use violence and human trafficking to control the workers.
There are even accounts these mines sexually abusing underage girls (Weaver, 2021).
The human cost of these mining operations also goes beyond the workers themselves. It is
estimated that the negligent mining process has likely poisoned over half a million people
overtime (Paddock, 2019). The health effects of mercury-based mining (shown in figure 2)are
extremely serious, including widespread birth defects. Furthermore, mercury contamination lasts
for generations in the environment and even damages DNA. Mercury based mining is not the
only or even most efficient form of mining gold, making this poisoning completely unnecessary.
Examples of less dangerous forms of gold mining can include technologies such as advanced
metal detectors and gold centrifuges.
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Figure 2
Gold bonded with mercury
https://education.australiasc
ience.tv/mercury-poisoning-
from-gold-
Solution to the Dirty Gold Crisis

The most direct and effective method of reducing the amount of dirty gold mining operations is
the use of government authority. While the United Nations has discussed the issue, little action
has been taken to stop dirty gold. The situation is complex as the United Nations must respect the
sovereignty of the nations the dirty gold trade takes place in. However, government action is one
of the only ways to seriously curtail this industry. Furthermore, it is also important to not only
scrutinize the import of the gold itself, but products made overseas that contain dirty gold, such
as smartphones. Another avenue governments can take is providing support to countries that
want to stop the dirty gold trade, but don’t have the resources to effectively combat gold cartels.
This solution is not easy from a political or logistical standpoint and will have a detrimental
impact on the economy because of the wide use of dirty gold. However, in the long term it is
possible to eliminate the use of dirty gold without considerably raising the cost of consumer
products. Less destructive methods of mining have the potential to not only reduce
environmental damage, but also increase gold yield.

How Government Action Will Stop Dirty Gold

The primary motivation for the “gold cartels” is clearly money, so by banning the import of dirty
gold, there will be no financial reason for these organizations to continue dirty mining
operations. Furthermore, by banning the import of products containing dirty gold, countries less
concerned with worker’s rights will stop using dirty gold in their products, as they cannot be
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exported. An example of this strategy is the recent U.S ban on solar panel components from
certain parts of China, as they are manufactured via forced labor. Providing support to countries
that want to stop the dirty gold trade can also be highly effective. For example, most dirty gold
operations in Peru are illegal under Peruvian law, but the government does not have the
resources to crack down on the mining.

Conclusion
The dirty gold trade is one of the most widespread environmental and humanitarian issues in the
modern world. And as our technological needs increase, so too will our demand for gold.
Technology companies that use dirty gold must be held accountable for using immorally
obtained gold. It is essential from both a moral and sustainability standpoint that we establish a
system of responsible and accountable mining. It is the responsibility of both the consumers and
the governments of the world to take this issue seriously and crackdown on the dirty gold
industry.
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Works Cited

“Dirty Gold’s Impacts.” Earthworks, 16 July 2018, www.earthworks.org/campaigns/no-

dirty-gold/impacts.

Gibbs, Marcus. “The Dirt on Dirty Gold.” Clean Mining, 21 Feb. 2020,

www.cleanmining.co/2020/02/21/the-dirt-on-dirty-gold.

“Gold Mining Restricts Amazon Rainforest Recovery.” ScienceDaily, 29 June 2020,

www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/06/200629090012.htm.

“Natural Areas.” Earthworks, 4 Oct. 2017, www.earthworks.org/campaigns/no-dirty-

gold/impacts/natural_areas.

Paddock, Richard. “The Hidden Cost of Gold: Birth Defects and Brain Damage.” The

New York Times, 10 Nov. 2019, www.nytimes.com/2019/11/09/world/asia/indonesia-mercury-

pollution-gold-mining.html.

“Water Quality.” Earthworks, 16 July 2018, www.earthworks.org/campaigns/no-dirty-

gold/impacts/water.

Weaver, Jay, and Nicholas Nehamas. “‘Abuses of Every Kind’: How a Billion-Dollar

Gold Racket Wrecks the Jungle, Enriches Narcos.” Miamiherald, 26 Feb. 2021,

www.miamiherald.com/news/local/crime/article249216305.html.