Sometimes the chain of supply and demand has disastrous consequences. As demands for gold and rare earth elements increase, so must the supply. Therefore, gold mining has become more prominent in parts of the world such as Cambodia. However, this mining is often unregulated and fueled by political gain. Therefore, the government is not implementing safety measures. As a result, Cambodian rivers are now being poisoned by toxic runoff from nearby gold mines. The people in neighboring villages and nearby wildlife are suffering the horrifying consequences.
Cambodian Rivers Are Being Poisoned By Toxic Runoff
Mongabay shares some horrifying firsthand accounts from people living near these poisoned Cambodian rivers. The names of the people who spoke to the outlet have been changed to protect their identities. One individual, whom the outlet named Thao, shared their unfortunate experiences with the toxic runoff in the water. Thao stated, "When you touch the water of the O'Ta Bouk River, the mud will stick to your skin." From there, they shared that "It creates skin issues, and we can't catch fish this year anymore. It's thick, like condensed milk. The oil from the machinery floats on the water surface, so it might affect our health, such as our stomach or intestines."
Thao lives in Ta Bouk village, a place where the Sesan River and O'Ta Bouk River meet. This village resides in the northeastern Cambodian province of Ratanakiri. Thao and their community depend heavily on the river for life. The Indigenous communities farm, fish, and live along the riverbank. In the past, the river provided them with ample clean water and plenty of fish. Unfortunatley, that has all started to change. Mongabay shares that Thao's village is just one of hundreds that have been poisoned by "toxic runoff from an explosion of unregulated mining." This unregulated mining began as demands for rare earth elements and surging gold prices began to escalate. With that escalation came less government involvement and environmental or safety standards.
People And Wildlife Are Suffering
As these Cambodian rivers are being poisoned by the toxic runoff, the local people and wildlife are suffering. Thao used to come home with armfuls of fish, but now their net remains empty every time they go out. Additionally, Thao suffered health issues from the polluted water. "In July, I experienced a skin issue with my foot after touching the water," he told Mongabay. "After half an hour, [my foot] was inflamed and itchy with small bumps on my skin. I went to buy medicine, and after a week it disappeared." Thao's younger sister and son also entered the water to bathe and suffered similar red lesions across all areas of their bodies that were submerged in the now-toxic water.
Thao shared that this reaction is common, but for those who lacked healthcare, the welts lasted up to a month. "I feel like [the company] wants to kill us; they don't love us anymore," Thao admitted. "The river doesn't pollute itself; it's polluted by the company."
