Nevada's mining industry has in recent years been the number one mercury polluter in the nation from combined waste rock and air emissions. Based on Nevada's gold operations since the early 1980s, up to and perhaps more than 100 tons of mercury have been released into the atmosphere here over the past 25 years.

As a result the health of community members and citizens are at stake. In this section read about the science behind the impacts and how you can help.

Mark Sells of EPA, showing Yerington residents Bill and Letha Wubbenhorst the EPA's scanner van that will measure for atmospheric levels of radioactive dust from the Yerington mine. | Photo Credit: Great Basin Resource Watch