An estimated two to three million people in Africa are at risk of exposure to toxic chemicals from ASGM4. Rising international gold prices have made ASGM an attractive employment alternative for struggling farmers, poor rural communities, and migrant laborers. Ghana and Tanzania each have ASGM workforces estimated at more than 1 million people. However, ASGM has been consistently listed as a major source of water and soil pollution. Serious health concerns associated with heavy metal poisoning from metals such as cadmium and mercury are disproportionally affecting poor and vulnerable people. It is estimated that gold production from small-scale mining accounts for about 38 percent of total mercury emissions on the continent. A mercury trade diagnostic study conducted by the Environment, Natural Resources and Blue Economy Global Practice estimated that 90 to 95 percent of mercury used is smuggled from neighboring nations. However, there is limited data and knowledge about the amount of mercury used or the extent of mercury contamination and its health, environmental, and social impacts.