In 2012, British newspaper The Guardian described a toxic lake created in conjunction with rare earth mining as "a murky expanse of water, in which no fish or algae can survive. The shore is coated with a black crust, so thick you can walk on it. Into this huge, 10-square-kilometer [about 4-square-mile] tailings pond nearby factories discharge water loaded with chemicals used to process the 17 most sought after minerals in the world." Local residents reported health issues including aching legs, diabetes, osteoporosis and chest problems, The Guardian reported.
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