scholarly journals Biomonitoring of arsenic, cadmium and lead in two artisanal and small-scale gold mining areas in Zimbabwe

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefan Rakete ◽  
Given Moonga ◽  
Anna-Maria Wahl ◽  
Viola Mambrey ◽  
Dennis Shoko ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Toxic Metals ◽  
Gold Mining ◽  
Limit Of Detection ◽  
Elemental Mercury ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Internal Exposure ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Gold Extraction ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Mining Areas

AbstractPeople living and working in artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) areas are frequently exposed to elemental mercury (Hg), which is used for gold extraction. However, additional exposure to other toxic metals such as arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) may result from mining-related activities and could be ingested via dust, water or food. In these areas, only limited biomonitoring data is available for toxic metals other than Hg. In particular, data about the exposure to As, Cd and Pb is unavailable for the Zimbabwean population. Therefore, we conducted a cross-sectional study in two ASGM areas in Zimbabwe to evaluate the internal exposure to these metals. In total, urine and blood samples from 207 people that identified themselves as miners were collected and analysed for As and Cd in urine as well as Pb in blood by GF-AAS. Median levels (interquartile ranges in μg/l) of As and Pb were 9.7 μg/l (4.0, 18.5) and 19.7 μg/l (12.5, 34.5), respectively. The 25th percentile and the median for Cd were below the limit of detection (0.5 μg/l); the 75th percentile was at 0.9 μg/l. The results were compared to reference values found for the general population in the USA and Germany, and a significant number of participants exceeded these values (As, 33 %; Cd, 27 %; Pb, 32 %), indicating a relevant exposure to toxic metals. Although not representative for the Zimbabwean population, our results demonstrate that the exposure to toxic metals is relevant for the public health in Zimbabwe and requires further investigation.

scholarly journals Analysis of the Mercury Distribution in Blood as a Potential Tool for Exposure Assessment — Results from Two Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining Areas in Zimbabwe

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna-Maria Wahl ◽  
Stephan Bose-O’Reilly ◽  
Viola Mambrey ◽  
James P. K. Rooney ◽  
Dennis Shoko ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Exposure Assessment ◽  
Whole Blood ◽  
Gold Mining ◽  
Sulfate Solution ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Sufficient Information ◽  
Strongly Correlated ◽  
Gold Extraction ◽  
Mining Areas ◽  
Distribution In Blood

AbstractPeople in artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) areas are frequently exposed to high levels of mercury (Hg). Hg analyses in urine and whole blood are the gold standard of biomonitoring, although this may not provide sufficient information about the source of exposure, e.g., due to the use of Hg for gold extraction or due to nutrition. To evaluate, whether the pharmacokinetic properties of individual Hg species may be useful for exposure assessment, we determined the Hg levels in different blood components from 199 participants. Therefore, whole blood was centrifuged on-site to yield erythrocytes and plasma. Globin was isolated from the erythrocytes by precipitation with ethyl acetate. Albumin was isolated from plasma by gradual precipitation with saturated ammonium sulfate solution. Hg levels in all samples were determined by using a direct Hg analyzer. Median Hg levels for whole blood, erythrocytes, and plasma were 2.7, 3.7, and 1.3 μg/l, respectively. In globin and albumin, median Hg levels were 10.3 and 7.9 μg/kg, respectively. The distribution of Hg was strongly correlated with whole blood Hg levels (p < 0.01) and the time between the last use of Hg and the date of the participation (p < 0.01). The results suggest that the distribution of Hg in blood is substantially affected by the extent and the frequency of the exposure to elemental Hg. Therefore, the analysis of Hg in erythrocytes and plasma may be a valuable tool for Hg exposure assessment in ASGM areas.

scholarly journals Human health risk assessment of atmospheric mercury inhalation around three artisanal small-scale gold mining areas in Indonesia

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (6) ◽  
pp. 423-433
Author(s):  
Koyomi Nakazawa ◽  
Osamu Nagafuchi ◽  
Tomonori Kawakami ◽  
Takanobu Inoue ◽  
Rosana Elvince ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Risk ◽  
Human Health ◽  
Gold Mining ◽  
Human Health Risk ◽  
Elemental Mercury ◽  
Atmospheric Mercury ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Gaseous Elemental Mercury ◽  
Mining Areas ◽  
Central Sulawesi

To clarify the human health risk of inhalation of gaseous elemental mercury (GEM), we measured GEM concentrations in three artisanal small-scale gold mining (ASGM) areas of Palu (Central Sulawesi), Muara Aman (Benkulu in Sumatra), and Palangka Raya (Central Kalimantan).

scholarly journals Knowledge of and Adherence to the Cyanide Code Among Small-scale Gold Miners in Northern Tanzania

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (14) ◽  
pp. 4-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elias C. Nyanza ◽  
Petro Yohana ◽  
Deborah S.K. Thomas ◽  
Wilfreda E. Thurston ◽  
Eveline Konje ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Management Practices ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Primary Objective ◽  
Worker Safety ◽  
Research Review ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Gold Extraction ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Mining Sites ◽  
Financial Interests

Background. Tanzania has seen explosive development in small scale gold mining (SGM) operations. Recently, the use of cyanide has become more common in SGM, especially in the reprocessing of mercury-amalgamated tailings from artisanal mining sites. Objectives. The primary objective of this study was to examine the level of knowledge and adherence to the Cyanide Code among workers and managers at SGM operations in northwestern Tanzania that use cyanide for gold extraction, focusing on workers' safety. Methods. A cross-sectional study of workers and managers at 17 selected SGM sites was conducted. A random-cluster approach was used to recruit 215 mine workers and 23 mine managers who worked at the same sites for more than three months. Individuals participated in structured face-to-face interviews. Site evaluation checklists were also administered to assess adherence. Results. The majority of the SGM workers (61.4%, n=132) were not aware of the Cyanide Code. Among the mine managers, 64.2% (n=15) were aware of the Cyanide Code. Fifty-four percent of workers and 39.1% of managers did not adhere to the Cyanide Code. Workers who reported being trained on the Cyanide Code were significantly more likely to have knowledge about the Cyanide Code guidelines compared to untrained workers (adjusted odds ratio =20.3, confidence interval: 7.5 – 54.8). Discussion. Wide variations in knowledge of and adherence to the Cyanide Code were found. A manager's knowledge of Cyanide Code was significantly associated with workers' knowledge. High worker and manager knowledge was associated with increased site safety performance. Even though all the SGM sites were physically visited, some potentially hazardous practices may not have been revealed by managers and workers because of fear of possible regulatory actions due to disclosure of concerns related to their operation's safety compliance. Conclusions. The limited knowledge of the Cyanide Code among workers and managers, combined with poor adherence to cyanide waste management practices, indicates that there is a need for education, health promotion and sensitization among workers and managers to improve worker safety and minimize environmental health impacts. Participant Consent: Obtained Competing Interests. The authors declare no competing financial interests. Ethics Approval: Ethical approval was obtained from the Conjoint Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences and Bugando Medical Centre Research Review and Ethics Committee (Ref. BREC/001/35/2014). Permission to conduct research in Geita District was obtained from the respective authorities at the regional and district levels and from owners of the SGM sites.

scholarly journals Exposure to Toxic Metals (As, Cd, Hg, Pb) in Two Artisanal and Small-scale Gold Mining (ASGM) Areas in Zimbabwe

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefan Rakete ◽  
Given Moonga ◽  
Anna-Maria Wahl ◽  
Viola Mambrey ◽  
Dennis Shoko ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reference Values ◽  
Toxic Metals ◽  
Limit Of Detection ◽  
Descriptive Analysis ◽  
Reference Value ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Mining Areas ◽  
Mercury Analysis ◽  
Contaminate Drinking Water ◽  
Gf Aas

Abstract Background: People living and working in ASGM areas are exposed to toxic metals such as arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg) and lead (Pb). Whereas Hg is purposely used to extract the gold from the ore, the other toxic metals can be liberated from the ore during the mining process. These metals can contaminate drinking water and food and are thus, a source of exposure for people living in these mining areas. However, there is limited to no data about the exposure to toxic metals of people living in ASGM areas. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to conduct biomonitoring of people identifying themselves as artisanal gold miners. Methods: Blood and urine were collected from 207 people living and working in two ASGM areas in Zimbabwe. Hg in whole blood and urine was analyzed by direct mercury analysis, Pb in blood as well as As and Cd in urine were analyzed by GF-AAS. The results were evaluated by descriptive analysis and correlated with the location, age, fish consumption, years living and working in the area. Results: Median As level in urine was 10.0 µg/l (range from below limit of detection to 460 µg/l). Median Cd level in urine was 0.3 µg/l (range from below limit of detection to 11.4 µg/l). Median Hg levels in blood / urine were 2.7 / 5.2 µg/l (range from 0.2 to 167 µg/l / 0.1 to 612 µg/l). Median Pb level in blood was 19.9 µg/l (range from 6.6 to 276 µg/l). As expected, the Hg levels were frequently above international reference values (e. g. NHANES, blood: 34%, urine: 69%). For Pb and Cd, a considerable number of participants (32% and 22% respectively) were above the reference values (NHANES / National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey) and for As 33% of the participants were above the reference value (UBA/ German Environment Agency). Conclusions: Hg levels were, as expected in ASGM areas, mainly above reference and threshold values. A high proportion of As, Cd and Pb levels were also above reference levels. Therefore, the exposure to toxic metals in the two ASGM areas in Zimbabwe is relevant for public health.

assessing knowledge, attitude and practices of miners and post-occupational miners towards pneumoconiosis in Wusakile Township, Kitwe, Zambia:cross sectional study (Preprint)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen Banda
Keyword(s):  
Negative Attitude ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Dust Exposure ◽  
P Value ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Negative Attitudes ◽  
Poor Knowledge ◽  
Mining Areas

BACKGROUND Occupational conditions are deadly health hazards especially where dust exposure is inevitable causing chronic disabilities, impaired respiratory function and ultimately leading to death if no intensive measures are put in place. Unhealthy practices and negative attitudes rise in the number of cases of pneumoconiosis due to poor health education and awareness strategies. Pneumoconiosis is not only a health problem but also a social and economic burden on the livelihood of people living in mining areas around the globe. OBJECTIVE to assess knowledge, attitude and practices of miners and post-occupational miners towards pneumoconiosis in Wusakile Township, Kitwe, Zambia. METHODS A cross-sectional study was employed to conduct a research in Wusakile Township and a questionnaire was customized in order to syphon data relevant to the study as well to be brief. The study was conducted among 73 participants who were randomly selected among miners and post-occupational miners and all satisfied the inclusion criteria. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were used to collect data. The data was entered and analysed using IBM SPSS software version 23. RESULTS Among 73 participants interviewed, 33.99% of participants had poor knowledge on the complications of pneumoconiosis. However, despite this poor knowledge, all participants had an idea about pneumoconiosis particularly silicosis. 13.70% of the respondents had bad practices towards pneumoconiosis while 86.30% had some good practices towards pneumoconiosis. Of the total participants, 19.18% of the participants had a negative attitude towards pneumoconiosis. Correlation between the level of education and practices of participants using Pearson Chi-Square, a p value of 0.021 (significant) was found ruling out the null hypothesis. CONCLUSIONS Information about pneumoconiosis and awareness programs towards pneumoconiosis are not widely disseminated among miners and post-occupational miners. There is still a significant number of participants who need to be educated more about pneumoconiosis and its complications so that attitude and practices are improved and also promote full community participation by involving competent health professionals to help in implementing preventive measures.

scholarly journals The outbreak of illegal gold mining in the Brazilian Amazon boosts deforestation

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Juliana Siqueira-Gay ◽  
Luis E. Sánchez
Keyword(s):  
Gold Mining ◽  
Brazilian Amazon ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Political Pressure ◽  
Deforestation Rate ◽  
Mining Areas ◽  
Mineral Supply ◽  
Regional Policies ◽  
Illegal Mining ◽  
Conservation Of Biodiversity

AbstractIncreased prices and political pressure are boosting illegal gold mining in the Brazilian Amazon, threatening forests, indigenous people, and conservation of biodiversity in protected areas. The rate of illegal mining deforestation increased more than 90% from 2017 to 2020, reaching 101.7 km2 annually in 2020 compared to 52.9 km2 annually in 2017. In that period, illegal mining deforestation rate grew more than the rate of clearing within mining leases. While formal mining is required to comply with environmental regulations, most small-scale or artisanal mining and especially illegal mining areas are abandoned after reserves are exhausted, without proper rehabilitation. Deforestation due to illegal mining is likely to increase in the next years, calling for coordination between local and regional policies as well as for strengthening and expanding international mechanisms to increase traceability of mineral supply chains with certification schemes to help to curb illegal mining.

scholarly journals Univariate associations between housing, management, and facility design factors and the prevalence of lameness lesions in fourteen small-scale dairy farms in Northeastern Algeria

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 570-578 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zoubida Dendani-Chadi ◽  
Khelaf Saidani ◽  
Loubna Dib ◽  
Fayçal Zeroual ◽  
Faouzi Sammar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Univariate Analysis ◽  
Indirect Costs ◽  
Dairy Farms ◽  
Site Investigation ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Facility Design ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Housing Management ◽  
Increased Risk

Background and Aim: This cross-sectional study aimed to analyze the associations between different types of housing, management, and facilities on the prevalence of lame, causing lesions in smallholder dairy farms in Algeria. Materials and Methods: The on-site investigation took place between December 2012 and May 2015. All cows were locomotion scored on a four-point scale, and foot lesions causing lame were diagnosed and recorded. Factors related to the farm and the cows' conditions were also assessed. The association between the possible risk factors and lame lesions was assessed using univariate analysis. Results: Of the 349 cows evaluated, 13% were lame (lameness score ≥2), with higher lameness values recorded for the hind feet than for the forefeet. Cows without lameness were classified as healthy. The two most frequent lesion diagnoses observed in lame cows were interdigital dermatitis/heel horn erosion (ID/HE; 39%) and interdigital phlegmon (IP; 35%), followed by traumatic lesions (T; 11%), digital dermatitis (DD; 8.7%), and laminitis-related diseases (L; 6.5%). The risk of being lame was increased in large herds with cows of the Holstein breed, and those in the third parity and above. Tie housing, concrete floor, concentrate feeding, zero-grazing, and the use of foot trimming occasionally were associated with increased risk for the presence of lame lesions. The region and footbathing frequency had no association with the prevalence of lame lesions (p≥0.05). Conclusion: These results have important implications; they indicate that several aspects of housing, management, and facility design are common protective factors for the prevalence of lame lesions. These factors should be maintained correctly to not only reduce the number of lame cows in these herds but also decrease the direct and indirect costs associated with cases of lameness.

scholarly journals HONEYBEE PRODUCTION SYSTEM, CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES IN SELECTED DISTRICTS OF GEDEO ZONE, SOUTHERN NATION, NATIONALITIES AND PEOPLES REGIONAL STATE, ETHIOPIA

2016 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 49-63
Author(s):  
Teklu Gebretsadik ◽  
Dinku Negash
Keyword(s):  
Production System ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Market Access ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Skill Training ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Production Constraints ◽  
Regional State

The study was carried out in selected districts of Gedeo zones of southern Nation nationality and people’s regional state: such as Wonago, Kochere and DillaZuria/chichu/ districts. The objective of the study was to asses production systems, opportunities and constraints of apiculture farming in Gedeo zones of SNNPRs. Beekeeping is a long-standing practice in the study districts and appears as ancient history of the country as a whole. A cross sectional study, in which 90 households were purposively included and conducted in selected district to assess the current beekeeping practices, production potentials and production constraints. Most (72%) of the beekeepers in the study area have owned only traditional hives and produce honey for home consumption. The beekeeping practice was dominated by male.  Despite the area have  production constraints, the area opportunities like existence of large sized natural forest and artificial forest, due attention provision from regional, federal and local government and nongovernmental organizations, yearly flowering and variety floral availability, some small scale farmers highly experienced in apiculture farming, market access and high demand of apicultural products at nationally and international level. Therefore, Designing effective honeybee pests and predators controlling methods, Introduction of full package improved beekeeping technologies with adequate practical skill training on all bee keeping trends and queen rearing practices promoting beekeepers important indigenous knowledge, Producing areal major honeybee plants in large scale, Avoiding discarding of bee colonies after honey harvest, Availing the strategies to support farmers with beekeeping business support services, Improving pre- and post-harvest handling of bee products and Improving the utilization of stingless bee’s resources, without damaging the colony is important to make the honey production system in the area more economical, so as to enhance bee products for national and international need.

scholarly journals The Importance of Mineralogical Knowledge in the Sustainability of Artisanal Gold Mining: A Mid-South Peru Case

Minerals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 345 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pura Alfonso ◽  
Hernan Anticoi ◽  
Teresa Yubero ◽  
Marc Bascompta ◽  
Laura Henao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gold Mining ◽  
Extraction Methods ◽  
Cyanide Solution ◽  
Gold Extraction ◽  
Gold Processing ◽  
Mining Areas ◽  
Quartz Veins ◽  
San Luis ◽  
Previously Treated ◽  
Processing Techniques

Mineralogy and gold processing techniques from several mining areas of the Nazca-Ocoña gold belt, Mid-South Peru, were investigated to assess the efficiency of gold extraction methods in relation to their mineralogy. The deposits from this belt are intrusion gold related to mineralization in quartz veins. Native gold occurs as micrometric grains encapsulated in pyrite and in minor amounts in other sulfides and quartz. Electrum is found mainly in fractures of pyrite and attains up to 35 wt. % Ag. In addition to these occurrences, gold tellurides also occur and they are abundant in San Luis. Gold processing is carried out by amalgamation with mercury and/or cyanidation. The comparison of the gold grade in the mineralizations and in the residual tailings indicates that a significant amount of gold is not recovered using the mercury amalgamation process and also, in the case of the gold recovery by cyanidation, except when cement was added to the cyanide solution. This was due to an increase in the pH that favours the dissolution of the gold matrix. In the cyanidation process carried out in tailings previously treated with mercury, part of the mercury retained in them is released to the atmosphere or to the cyanidation fluids.

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