MERCURY USE IN ARTISANAL SMALL-SCALE GOLD MINING IN ZIMBABWE: DISABILTY-ADJUSTED LIFE YEARS (DALYS) OF CHRONIC MERCURY INTOXICATION

2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nadine Steckling ◽  
Stephan Bose-O’Reilly ◽  
Paulo Pinheiro ◽  
Dietrich Plaß ◽  
Dennis Shoko ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gold Mining ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Life Years ◽  
Mercury Intoxication ◽  
Chronic Mercury Intoxication

scholarly journals The burden of chronic mercury intoxication in artisanal small-scale gold mining in Zimbabwe: data availability and preliminary estimates

2014 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nadine Steckling ◽  
Stephan Bose-O’Reilly ◽  
Paulo Pinheiro ◽  
Dietrich Plass ◽  
Dennis Shoko ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gold Mining ◽  
Data Availability ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Mercury Intoxication ◽  
Chronic Mercury Intoxication

scholarly journals Health Impact Assessment of Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining Area in Myanmar, Mandalay Region: Preliminary Research

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (18) ◽  
pp. 6757
Author(s):  
Win Thiri Kyaw ◽  
Xiaoxu Kuang ◽  
Masayuki Sakakibara
Keyword(s):  
Respiratory Function ◽  
Gold Mining ◽  
Pulmonary Function Tests ◽  
Signs And Symptoms ◽  
Mining Area ◽  
Health Impact ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Hair Mercury ◽  
Mercury Intoxication ◽  
Chronic Mercury Intoxication

Increasing artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) in developing countries has raised health concerns in mining communities. A preliminary health survey was conducted in Thabeikkyin Township, Mandalay Region, Myanmar, in February 2020 to assess the health conditions of an ASGM community. Respiratory function and other clinical assessments were evaluated in miners and non-miners, and participants’ hair was analyzed for heavy metals. Respiratory function of miners was similar to that of non-miners. However, miners’ respiratory function declined with longer mining activity duration. In total, 3 out of 18 miners showed neurological signs and symptoms of chronic mercury intoxication. The median concentration of the hair mercury was significantly higher in miners than non-miners (P = 0.01), and 9 out of 18 miners and 2 out of 11 non-miners showed the warning level of mercury. We found that, despite an association between declining respiratory function and length of time mining, only a minority of miners showed clinical features of chronic mercury intoxication. Further clinical surveys with a larger sample size are necessary to determine the broader health status of this community. In addition, clinical indicators such as pulmonary function tests are recommended as additional criteria for the diagnosis of mercury intoxication.

scholarly journals Economic Impacts on Human Health Resulting from the Use of Mercury in the Illegal Gold Mining in the Brazilian Amazon: A Methodological Assessment

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (22) ◽  
pp. 11869
Author(s):  
Leonardo Barcellos de Bakker ◽  
Pedro Gasparinetti ◽  
Júlia Mello de Queiroz ◽  
Ana Claudia Santiago de Vasconcellos
Keyword(s):  
Human Health ◽  
Gold Mining ◽  
Economic Value ◽  
Brazilian Amazon ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Environmental Damage ◽  
Statistical Life ◽  
Life Years ◽  
Methodological Assessment

Artisanal small-scale gold mining (ASGM) in the Amazon results in the dumping of tons of mercury into the environment annually. Despite consensus on the impacts of mercury on human health, there are still unknowns regarding: (i) the extent to which mercury from ASGM can be dispersed in the environment until it becomes toxic to humans; and (ii) the economic value of losses caused by contamination becomes evident. The main objective of this study is to propose a methodology to evaluate the impacts of ASGM on human health in different contexts in the Brazilian Amazon. We connect several points in the literature based on hypotheses regarding mercury dispersion in water, its transformation into methylmercury, and absorption by fish and humans. This methodology can be used as a tool to estimate the extent of environmental damage caused by artisanal gold mining, the severity of damage to the health of individuals contaminated by mercury and, consequently, can contribute to the application of fines to environmental violators. The consequences of contamination are evaluated by dose-response functions relating to mercury concentrations in hair and the development of the following health outcomes: (i) mild mental retardation, (ii) acute myocardial infarction, and (iii) hypertension. From disability-adjusted life years and statistical life value, we found that the economic losses range from 100,000 to 400,000 USD per kilogram of gold extracted. A case study of the Yanomami indigenous land shows that the impacts of mercury from illegal gold mining in 2020 totaled 69 million USD, which could be used by local authorities to compensate the Yanomami people.

scholarly journals Health-related quality of life (EQ-5D + C) among people living in artisanal and small-scale gold mining areas in Zimbabwe: a cross-sectional study

2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Friederike-Marie Butscher ◽  
Stefan Rakete ◽  
Myriam Tobollik ◽  
Viola Mambrey ◽  
Dingani Moyo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Negative Influence ◽  
Health Conditions ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Adverse Health Effects ◽  
Adverse Health ◽  
Mercury Intoxication ◽  
Related Quality ◽  
Chronic Mercury Intoxication

Abstract Background In Zimbabwe, an estimated 500,000 people work in the sector of artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM). Two million Zimbabweans are dependent on this sector. Using mercury is common to extract gold from ore. Long term exposure to mercury can cause various adverse health conditions including chronic mercury intoxication. The influence of these adverse health effects on the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is still unknown. The aim of this study is to assess the HRQoL of people who identify themselves as miners, and to analyze potential influencing factors, such as age, years of working with mercury and health conditions caused by mercury exposure. Methods This cross-sectional study assessed the HRQoL using the standardized EQ-5D + C (3 L) questionnaire and collected human specimens (blood, urine) of people living and possibly working in ASGM areas in Zimbabwe. Factors such as age, years of working with mercury and adverse health conditions possibly caused by mercury exposure were analyzed with regards to their influence on the HRQoL. Results The 207 participants (82% male, mean age 38 years) reported 40 different health states. Of the study participants 42.5% reported to be in complete good health while 57.5% reported being unwell in different ways. Nine participants (4.3%) were identified with chronic mercury intoxication, whereas 92 participants (33.3%) had mercury levels above the “Alert” threshold in at least one specimen. Having chronic mercury intoxication has a significant negative influence on the HRQoL, when taking into account age, gender and years of working with mercury. Cognitive problems were the most reported in the questionnaire, however, the association between this domain separately and the HRQoL was not verified. Conclusion This study shows that adverse health effects caused by chronic exposure to mercury, have a negative influence on the HRQoL among people living in ASGM areas.

scholarly journals Penyakit Parkinson Akibat Merkuri pada Pekerja Penambangan Emas Skala Kecil

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 170-176
Author(s):  
Alif Maulida Habibia ◽  
Ferry Yundiarto ◽  
Hen Sania ◽  
Karimah Permata Arinda Putri ◽  
Wia Bunga Ramadhan
Keyword(s):  
Parkinson’S Disease ◽  
Parkinson's Disease ◽  
Substantia Nigra ◽  
Gold Mining ◽  
Neuronal Damage ◽  
Mercury Exposure ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Mercury Intoxication ◽  
Gold Miners ◽  
The Impact

Introduction: Parkinson's disease is one of the fastest-growing diseases in terms of prevalence, disability, and mortality. Exposure to environmental toxic substances, such as mercury (Hg) can increase the risk of neuronal damage and neurodegenerative diseases. Purpose: The purpose of writing this article is to determine the impact of mercury exposure on the incidence of Parkinson's disease in small-scale gold mining workers. Methods: The author searches for material through the Google Scholars, NCBI, and ScienceDirect search pages by limiting the journals published in 2015-2020. In this review, the authors conducted a study of 33 scientific articles. Results: The small-scale gold mining industry is the largest source of mercury emissions in the world. Mercury gas has a negative impact on the lungs, kidneys, liver, and nervous system. Gold miners have a very high likelihood of being exposed to metallic mercury and suffering occupational mercury intoxication. Discussion: Mercury is known to be a neurotoxin that can cause neuron death and damage to the substantia nigra and other basal ganglia nuclei. Acute mercury exposure can cause tremors, memory loss, respiratory distress, and even death. Gold miners are a group that is exposed to a lot of mercury and suffers from work-induced mercury intoxication. Conclusion: Mercury-induced parkinsonism can be identified because of its predilection for accumulation and palladium and striatum damage such as damage to the substantia nigra pars in Parkinson's disease.

scholarly journals Chronic Effect Analysis of Mercury Exposure on Communities Around Small Scale Gold Mining in Indonesia Using Human Biomonitoring (HBM) Method

2020 ◽  
Vol 148 ◽  
pp. 04001
Author(s):  
Haryo Mubiarto ◽  
Herto Dwi Ariesyady ◽  
Siska Widya Dewi Kusumah ◽  
Juli Soemirat
Keyword(s):  
Gold Mining ◽  
Daily Intake ◽  
Human Biomonitoring ◽  
Mercury Exposure ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Mining Activities ◽  
Chronic Effect ◽  
Hair Mercury ◽  
Tolerable Weekly Intake ◽  
Mercury Intoxication

In general, small-scale gold mining activities that are spread throughout Indonesia practicing amalgamation technique. The amalgamation process in the mining activities can result in environmental degradation due to tailing waste containing mercury that are discharged into the environment and will distributed and bioaccumulated through food chain. Mercury exposure to human can give a chronic effect. Measuring mercury concentration in biomarkers such as nail and hair is a method to indicate the mercury poisoning level. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to analyze mercury concentrations in nail and hair as chronic exposure biomarkers. Besides, we also conducted Human Biomonitoring (HBM) analysis to assess mercury intoxication in the communities. Moreover, we analyzed mercury concentrations in water, rice, fish, and food crops samples to understand their association with mercury concentrations in nail and hair through a Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intake (PTWI) analysis. This research was conducted in 4 districts in Indonesia which has a significant number of small-scale gold mining activities. The results showed that the maximum concentration of T-Hg in the nail and hair of the workers was 58.48 µg/g and 55.97 µg/g, respectively. Based on HBM analysis, in several districts, more than 60% of the workers has been intoxicated by mercury. Meanwhile, Average Daily Intake (ADI) and PTWI were significantly correlated with concentration mercury in the nail and hair. Mercury concentrations in worker’s hair was significantly correlated with working experience. We identified that the age and residence duration were the major predictor of concentration mercury in nail and hair, respectively.

scholarly journals Transdisciplinary Online Health Assessment of an Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining Community during the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Mandalay Region of Myanmar

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (21) ◽  
pp. 11206
Author(s):  
Win Thiri Kyaw ◽  
Yee Mon Myint ◽  
Xiaoxu Kuang ◽  
Masayuki Sakakibara
Keyword(s):  
Community Health ◽  
Gold Mining ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Health Assessment ◽  
Assessment System ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Transdisciplinary Approach ◽  
Mercury Intoxication ◽  
Service Application

Artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) has a known negative effect on the community’s health; therefore, assessment to monitor community health is essential to detect any issues and enable early treatment. Because ASGM-related health issues are complex and cannot be addressed effectively with a traditional one-time health assessment alone, both long-term and regular health assessments using a transdisciplinary approach should be considered. In response to this need, we designed an online health assessment tool as a reference for a future long-term health assessment system. An online video interview was conducted with 54 respondents living in the ASGM area of Chaung Gyi Village, Thabeikkyin Township, Mandalay Region, Myanmar, via a social networking service application. The tool was used to evaluate community health during the coronavirus 2019 pandemic, including mercury intoxication symptoms, mining-related diseases, and other diseases. Results show that persons working in mining versus non-mining occupations had a greater prevalence of pulmonary diseases, such as pulmonary tuberculosis, silicosis, and bronchial asthma, in addition to malaria. Based on these findings, online health assessment using a transdisciplinary approach can be recommended as an effective tool for sustainable and long-term health assessment of ASGM-related disease and should be performed regularly following physical health surveys.

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