![]() UN Environment Programme, Chemicals and Health Branch Geneva, Switzerland, p 62 UN Environment (2019) Global Mercury assessment 2018. Report to the Global Mercury Project: Removal of barriers to introduction of cleaner Artisanal Gold Mining and extraction technologies, GEF/UNDP/UNI Veiga M, Baker R (2004) Protocols for environmental and health assessment of mercury released by Artisanal and Small Scale Miners. Velasquez-Lopez PC, Veiga MM, Hall K (2010) Mercury balance in amalgamation in artisanal and small-scale gold mining: identifying strategies for reducing environmental pollution in Portovelo-Zaruma, Ecuador. The study recommends the introduction of techniques that eliminate mercury entirely from artisanal and small gold mining in Ghana as well as educating the miners and creating awareness of the risk of mercury. However, miners were less aware of the toxicity and health effects of mercury used in amalgamation as 80% indicated that mercury was not harmful and were not aware of the mercury uptake in the food chain and its accumulative effects on organisms higher up on the food chain. The majority of the miners (75%) had some form of formal education which resulted in the miners exhibiting a relatively high awareness of the environmental risk of mining water pollution (92%) and land degradation (88%) and open pits serving as mosquito breeding places (83%). The soils and sediments are moderate to highly contaminated with mercury and the inhabitants are at risk of the deleterious effects of mercury. The mean concentration of mercury in soil from the community and mining fields was 0.26 mg/kg and 6.80 mg/kg in hotspots while the concentrations in the sediments were up to 0.57 mg/kg. ![]() However, there should be a continual monitoring since there is the likelihood that the concentrations may increase to levels that could pose health threat.The extent of mercury contamination in soils and sediments of an artisanal gold mining community (Mpatasie) was found and the inhabitants’ awareness of the risks posed by mercury was determined using a structured questionnaire. Although, the results indicate elevated internal dose of mercury in the miner, the current levels do not appear to pose a significant health threat to the miner. We found that the total mercury accumulated by the individuals was independent of age but correlated positively and significantly (p = 0.05) with the duration of stay in the occupation. The mean total mercury concentration of the urine samples was 6.967☐.055 μg/L with a range of 2.589-12.009 μg/L which is lower than the WHO guideline value for urine mercury concentration of 50.00 μg/L. Some individuals recorded concentrations which are above the WHO safety limit of 10.000 μg/g above which adverse health effects may occur. The hair samples recorded a mean of 6.591☐.006 μg/g and a range of 1.982 – 15.966 μg/g. The mean total mercury of the nails of the miners was 3.323 ± 0.36μg/g and a range of 0.387 – 12.688 μg/g. In this study, total mercury concentrations in scalp hair, urine and finger nails of thirty-six (36) miners were determined to ascertain the extent of mercury exposure among the individuals. In the extraction process, the resultant amalgam is roasted where mercury vapour is released and inhaled by the individuals within the vicinity. Title: Mercury exposure among miners in an artisanal gold mining community in Ashanti Region of GhanaĪuthors and Affiliations: Edward Ebow Kwaansa-Ansah1, Osei Akoto1, Niladri Basu2ġDepartment of Chemistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, GhanaĢDepartment of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USAĪbstract: Amansie West District of the Ashanti region is rich in gold deposits hence surface mining is the most important economic activity in which mercury is largely employed.
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