Rare earth mining is poisoning Mekong River tributaries, threatening ‘the world’s kitchen’
Rare earth mining is poisoning Mekong River tributaries, threatening ‘the world’s kitchen’
Long burdened by sand mining and plastic waste, the Mekong River now faces a new threat – toxic runoff from unregulated rare earth mines upstream.
Thailand is bearing the brunt of the mining boom as toxins threaten its global food exports, from rice in US supermarkets to edamame served in Japan and garlic used in Malaysian kitchens.
Thai Farmer Lah Boonruang irrigates his fields with water from a Mekong tributary. “Everyone is afraid of the toxins. If we can't export, a farmer is the first to die.”
Scientists have discovered alarming signs in river life – discoloured scales and tumour-like growths on fish.
