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 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 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 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.

Maternal exposure to arsenic and mercury in small-scale gold mining areas of Northern Tanzania

2019 ◽  
Vol 173 ◽  
pp. 432-442 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elias C. Nyanza ◽  
Francois P. Bernier ◽  
Mange Manyama ◽  
Jennifer Hatfield ◽  
Jonathan W. Martin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gold Mining ◽  
Maternal Exposure ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Mining Areas ◽  
Northern Tanzania

Deforestation and forest regeneration following small-scale gold mining in the Amazon: the case of Suriname

2001 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 117-126 ◽  
Author(s):  
Garry D. Peterson ◽  
Marieke Heemskerk
Keyword(s):  
Gold Mining ◽  
Forest Cover ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Gold Rush ◽  
Forest Recovery ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Old Growth ◽  
Mining Sites ◽  
Mining Areas ◽  
Old Growth Forest

Despite scientific concern about Amazon deforestation and the impacts of the Amazon gold rush, few researchers have assessed the long-term impacts of small-scale gold mining on forest cover. This study estimates deforestation from gold mining and analyses the regeneration of abandoned mining areas in the Suriname Amazon. Fieldwork in December 1998 included observations and ecological measurements, as well as qualitative interviews with local miners about mining history and technology. Vegetation cover of abandoned mining sites of different ages was compared with that in old-growth forest. By present estimates, gold miners clear 48–96 km2 of old-growth forest in Suriname annually. Based on different assumptions about changes in technology and the amount of mining that takes place on previously mined sites, cumulative deforestation is expected to reach 750–2280 km2 by 2010. Furthermore, the analysis of abandoned mining sites suggests that forest recovery following mining is slow and qualitatively inferior compared to regeneration following other land uses. Unlike areas in nearby old-growth forest, large parts of mined areas remain bare ground, grass, and standing water. The area deforested by mining may seem relatively small, but given the slow forest recovery and the concentration of mining in selected areas, small-scale gold mining is expected to reduce local forest cover and ecosystem services in regions where mining takes place.

Applicability of two mobile analysers for mercury in urine in small-scale gold mining areas

2011 ◽  
Vol 215 (1) ◽  
pp. 64-67 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Baeuml ◽  
Stephan Bose-O’Reilly ◽  
Beate Lettmeier ◽  
Alexandra Maydl ◽  
Katalin Messerer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gold Mining ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Mining Areas ◽  
Mercury In Urine

scholarly journals Effect of gold mining on total factor productivity of farmers: Evidence from Ghana

2018 ◽  
Vol 111 (2) ◽  
pp. 327
Author(s):  
John K. M. KUWORNU ◽  
Yaw B. OSEI-ASARE ◽  
Michael O. ANSAH ◽  
Akwasi MENSAH-BONSU
Keyword(s):  
Total Factor Productivity ◽  
Gold Mining ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Mining Activities ◽  
Factor Productivity ◽  
Mining Areas ◽  
Catchment Areas ◽  
Land Disputes ◽  
Cocoa Farmers ◽  
Brong Ahafo Region

Gold mining comes with several benefits to developing countries, manifested mainly in the form of employment and revenue, but simultaneously impacts negatively on the immediate environment. It affects the economic structure including agriculture and its productivity. Hence, this study investigated the effect of gold mining on total factor productivity of farmers in Ghana using 110 cocoa farmers from Asutifi North and Asutifi South districts of the Brong Ahafo Region, categorised into mining and non-mining areas respectively. About 83 % of the farmers in the mining areas were affected by gold mining through channels such as land disputes, relocation of farm/residence, high cost of labour, illegal small-scale mining and dust settlement on crops. Also, about 64 % of cocoa farmers in the mining areas lost their farm lands (between 0.4 and 3.64 ha as a result of gold mining. The Tornqvist Total Factor Productivity (TFP) indices for cocoa farmers in the non-mining areas (mean TFP of 1.404) were also statistically higher than those in the mining areas (mean TFP of 0.371). The study concluded that gold mining activities adversely affect productivity of farmers in the catchment areas. The study recommends, among others, that a policy of land-for-land should be in place and effectively implemented to ensure that mining companies in order to enhance and ensure continuity of livelihoods must fully replace lands lost through mining activities.

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