Comments on: Isseneru scaling down on fish to limit mercury poisoning

By: Richard Couture

Richard Couture — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 06:59:39 +0000

Hello Mr. Rupman,
I was named in the article since I conducted the study between 2001 and 2005. Your comments are appreciated. Our data does not permit us to determine the proportion of naturally occuring mercury; atmospheric fall-out could play an important part as has been stated in mercury studies conducted in Brazil prior to ours.
Their is a misunderstanding in the article: we did not find high levels of mercury in Aishalton; this community raise cattle and has a diversified diet. In Gunn’s, fish is the major protein source and is very abundant.
Our study permits us to conlude that hinterland people that eat big carnivorous fish will accumulate mercury in their body and this is true both in mining and non-mining areas.

By: Quibian

Quibian — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 00:10:08 +0000

kick out all big mining operations now. it seems we have not learned since the omai tragedy.

By: RodRick (Dis is one bias newspaper)

RodRick (Dis is one bias newspaper) — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 19:38:36 +0000

MT,
Next time you go to one of the markets in GT, smell some of the greens. Pesticides can sometimes be smelled on some green leafy veggies. I think that has some to do with the health
problems Guyanese are facing too.

By: Joy

Joy — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 18:29:15 +0000

Residents using cassava and plantains as an alternative source of protein is certainly not the answer. These ground provisions provide more starches. Proper education of the residents and the government adopting a serious approach to healthcare,are two factors that are sorely lacking.

By: NotFromGT

NotFromGT — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 18:15:55 +0000

The mining companies and their investors should make reparations. They should pay for an environment cleanup. Pay for the medical treatment of these innocent people who are on the front lines and at the mercy of these Foreigners. Time to take these exploiters to task.

By: michael tannassee

michael tannassee — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 13:23:33 +0000

… some time ago ,, when i mentioned this abt the seafood caught from the sea ,, SN/moderator/AXer ,, killed it ,, why ? aks dem ,, all the fishes caught at sea ,, off the shores of Guyana has their origin from the Amazon ,, where gold mining is large scale thus the heavy concentration of mercury in the catch from the sea ,, which then is the reason for the high per cent of kidney infections/failures to many in GUYANA ,,,,,,

the ratio of kidney patients is alarming in GUYANA relative to the population ! it is good to see that the President has declared tthe immediate discontinuation of mercury in the search for gold in GUYANA !

By: Jaguar4u

Jaguar4u — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 13:21:52 +0000

The negative effects of mercury has long been established and should be banned from mining in Guyana. Is it a coincidence that the health effects have long been ignored by the health authorities because it mainly affects the hinterland communities???????????????
Every hinterland community should demand the parliament enact legislation to ban and protect the way of life of the hinterland communities in Guyana.

By: Rupman

Rupman — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 13:06:51 +0000

What is the possible reasons for high mercury levels in persons from “non mining areas like Aishalton and Gunns Strip”? Because this raises the possibility of mercury pollution by natural means. This would make it much more difficult to control.

One also wonders, that since Mercury is so poisonous, if the information regarding high mercury content in these “non mining areas” was made available to the villages and if any follow up action was taken by the necessary authorities to attempt to identify and solve this problem.