How Does Gold Mining Affect The Environment

Gold is a rare and valuable metal. It has been widely used throughout the world in many forms for centuries such as currency, jewelry, medicine, awards, electronics, etc... Gold has attracted both wealthy and poor people. Humans started the process of gold mining 7000 years ago, between 4700 and 4200 BC. Miners risk their lives everyday working underground, to provide food on the table for their families and their children. The process of gold mining causes serious problems to our environment. Soon or later, these problems will affect the nature. The place that miners work in (underground) is very hot and dangerous which can cause accidents and disasters. Thousands and thousands of miners die each year from mining accidents. Not only accidents and disasters, but also gold mining can cause leaks of …show more content…
It does not harm humans only, but also threatens animal’s health and plants too.

Gold mining is a serious problem due to air, water and noise pollution. It is one of the most dangerous processes that will destroy the environment because it affects our environment severely and it causes major problems to human’s health. Gold mines release endless toxic wastes. It pollutes the water by the dispose of highly toxic substances nearby oceans, seas, rivers and lakes. These highly toxic substances cause crucial effects on humans because of the polluted water resources. For example, in southwestern Spain, a river called Río Tinto, mining has resulted in adverse effects and the river is known to be very acidic and dangerous. Although after long period of abandonment, the river is still known to be