Brazil exports more than 100 tons of gold annually, about 20% of which is produced illegally (1). Illegal gold mining in the Amazon region of Brazil has increased substantially in the past few years, as inspections and penalties for violators have diminished (2, 3). The gold mining process has led to mercury contamination in Brazil’s waterways (4, 5). When consumed by humans, mercury damages the central nervous system and disrupts the metabolic function of organs (6). Brazil’s government must step in to protect the country’s population by enforcing mining laws and limiting mercury use.