In the remote village of Bantako, deep in southeastern Senegal, thousands of small-scale gold miners continue to use toxic mercury to extract gold, despite severe health and environmental risks. The Senegalese government has struggled for years to enforce a ban on the dangerous metal, but miners say they have no alternative.
A Risky Gamble for Gold
With global gold prices soaring due to geopolitical tensions, the lure of quick profits drives miners to dig deep—sometimes up to 15 meters—into the earth. Yet, few strike it rich. Instead, many are poisoning the land and themselves by using mercury to bind tiny gold fragments.
“Life is a gamble,” said one prospector. “Wherever we are, we have to work. You have to seize your opportunities.”
But the cost of this gamble is high. Mercury contamination has devastated the local environment, leaving soil unfit for farming.
“The soil here is contaminated, so we can’t grow crops,” lamented a villager. “It’s really a great sadness for me to see the trees die.”
A Toxic Legacy
Mercury exposure poses severe health risks, including lung diseases, neurological damage, and birth defects in newborns. Despite this, miners say they cannot afford to stop.
“Mercury is a very dangerous product,” acknowledged one worker. “It poisons the soil, the air, and can cause deformities in babies. But without another way to extract gold, we won’t stop using it.”
Government Efforts Fall Short
The Senegalese government has repeatedly tried to ban mercury in gold mining, but enforcement remains weak. Miners, many of whom rely on the trade for survival, continue the practice out of necessity.
As long as gold prices stay high and alternatives remain scarce, the cycle of contamination and health risks in Bantako is unlikely to end. For now, the gamble continues—with lives and land at stake.
