Listen to the podcast.

Dirty Gold

Next time you admire a glittery gold necklace or ring in a jewelry store showcase, consider this: Making just one gold ring produces 20 tons of toxic waste, consumes massive amounts of energy and can have a devastating impact on villages situated close to the mine from which the gold was extracted.

That’s why eight of the world’s top jewelry retailers recently took a pledge to move away from “dirty gold” and called upon mining companies to ensure their gold is extracted in more socially and environmentally responsible ways.

The Zale Corporation, Signet Group (parent of Sterling and Kay Jewelers), Tiffany & Co., Helzberg Diamonds, Fortunoff, Cartier, Piaget, and Van Cleef & Arpels all signed on with the “No Dirty Gold” campaign in an effort to change the way gold is mined and produced around the world. These eight companies sell $6.3 billion annually in gold jewelry, roughly 14% of U.S. sales. Gold has no real practical or beneficial uses – roughly 80% of it is used to make jewelry.

The push for cleaner mining practices results from the enormous volume of chemicals used in modern gold mining, which can often pollute entire river systems, making those who live nearby quite ill. The toxic runoff from gold mines includes such hazardous chemicals as mercury and cyanide, which can cause serious damage to the central nervous system.

For more information, visit www.nodirtygold.org

To read more about this and other environmental health issues, go to: www.environmentalhealthnews.org, www.ourstolenfuture.org, or www.healthandenvironment.org