Mercury Surveillance themes in the Amazon Region

This document presents material prepared for a forum held in Lima, Peru (3–5 September 2013) on artisanal and small-scale gold mining, focused on mercury surveillance themes in the Amazon region. It outlines general background on the Amazon, describes regional vulnerability factors, and identifies key sources of mercury emissions, including gold extraction, deforestation, and other extractive activities. It compiles indicative figures on the scale of artisanal mining, associated gold production, and patterns in scientific publication on mercury in the region. It then describes ongoing work and a proposed environmental health surveillance approach, including agreed indicators, risk-factor monitoring, cooperation among member countries, and an integrated information system to support coordinated action.