Child Labor
Child labour is a great problem in artisanal and illegal mining. The low income of the miners has it that children have to work in order to complement the family income, placing their health in danger, limiting their education and future development. It is estimated that over 1 million children as young as 5 works in mines throughout the world. Mining is considered a form of hazardous labor unfit for children under any circumstances, including poverty.
Child miners face many potential health consequences due to the nature of their work including: over-exertion, respiratory ailments, headaches, joint problems, and hearing and vision loss. In addition children miners in gold face potential side effects from working with mercury. Mercury is a highly toxic substance used to extract gold. Mercury poisoning can affect a person’s brain, heart, kidneys, and lungs. Additionally, mercury poisoning is extremely detrimental to children, affecting their nervous system development leading to long-term developmental disabilities.
