The hidden cost of buying gold | Claudia Vega

This episode of TED Talks Daily features an interview with rainforest toxicologist and TED Fellow Claudia Vega, who studies the effects of mercury pollution from illegal artisanal gold mining in the Peruvian Amazon. Vega discusses her journey from veterinary medicine to researching mercury contamination, the importance of local scientific work in the Amazon, and the impact of mercury on indigenous communities and global health. She highlights the need for traceability in the gold trade and emphasizes that what happens in the Amazon affects everyone, advocating for responsible mining practices and valuing the forest's resources beyond gold. The conversation explores potential solutions, the role of governments and consumers, and the challenges of changing behaviors in the mining industry.