A boom in unregulated mines raises levels of contaminants in rivers: Report

A heavy price to pay for parts of mainland Southeast Asia. Soaring demand for gold and rare earths coupled with regional weakness in regulation and governance are leading to dangerous pollution in the Irrawaddy and Mekong rivers that are a critical lifeline for tens of millions of people. That is the warning from a Washington-based think tank, which is also calling for urgent action against illegal mining.