scholarly journals Occupational and environmental mercury exposure among small-scale gold miners in the Talensi–Nabdam District of Ghana's Upper East region

2010 ◽  
Vol 408 (24) ◽  
pp. 6079-6085 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yasaswi Paruchuri ◽  
Amanda Siuniak ◽  
Nicole Johnson ◽  
Elena Levin ◽  
Katherine Mitchell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mercury Exposure ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
East Region ◽  
Gold Miners ◽  
Upper East Region

Mercury exposure in female artisanal small-scale gold miners (ASGM) in Mongolia: An analysis of human biomonitoring (HBM) data from 2008

2011 ◽  
Vol 409 (5) ◽  
pp. 994-1000 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nadine Steckling ◽  
Stephan Boese-O'Reilly ◽  
Cornelia Gradel ◽  
Kersten Gutschmidt ◽  
Enkhtsetseg Shinee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Biomonitoring ◽  
Mercury Exposure ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Gold Miners

scholarly journals Effect of Mercury Exposure on Renal Function and Hematological Parameters among Artisanal and Small-scale Gold Miners at Sekotong, West Lombok, Indonesia

2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (9) ◽  
pp. 25-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ardiana Ekawanti ◽  
Baiq Dewi Krisnayanti
Keyword(s):  
Renal Function ◽  
Human Exposure ◽  
Hematological Parameters ◽  
Mercury Exposure ◽  
Urine Samples ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Mercury Toxicity ◽  
Mercury Intoxication ◽  
Gold Miners ◽  
Blood And Urine Samples

Background. Mercury is a toxic metal with effects on human health ranging from acute to chronic in a very short time of exposure. Artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) is the main source of direct human exposure to mercury. Human exposure to mercury (Hg) can occur through both direct inhalation of mercury vapor and consumption of material taken from contaminated areas. To protect the health of ASGM workers and surrounding communities, a health assessment of mercury exposure and its effects is urgently needed. However, analysis of hair and urine samples as a proof test for mercury toxicity is very expensive. Therefore other tests must be considered to identify the first symptoms of mercury toxicity in miners and the surrounding community. Objectives. The present study aimed to determine the effects of mercury exposure on renal function along with the hematological parameters of gold miners and the community as a first indication of mercury exposure symptoms. Methods. The study was designed as a purposive field sampling study and was conducted in 3 main villages in Sekotong District, West Lombok Regency, West Nusa Tenggara Province, Indonesia. The 100 subjects were miners that have been exposed to mercury for at least 5 years and their wives and children (non-miners) who lived around the gold processing area. Blood and urine samples were then obtained from the subjects. The miners and non-miners were questioned about their mercury exposure over the previous 5 years, duration of exposure, and how mercury was handled in their daily life. Blood and urine samples were collected at the time of the study, around 10 ml of urine and 0.1 ml of blood (2 drops) were collected per subject. In order to determine the parallel results between the blood-urine and hair results, hair from the miners was collected at a different time for analysis. Results. The results showed that the subjects had low proteinuria, hemoglobin and hematocrit concentrations as a consequence of chronic mercury intoxication. This finding was parallel with results of high mercury concentrations in urine (>7 – 273.3 μg/l) and miners' hair (>1 – 12.93 μg/g). Miners and non-miners in the exposure area were found to have proteinuria levels of more than 0.3 g/L. Proteinuria (≥0.3 g/L) was observed in 92.6% of miners and 72.4% of non-miners. Conclusions. The results of the present study suggest that urinalysis of proteinuria and hemoglobin values can be used as a screening test to detect renal impairment due to mercury intoxication.

A review of mercury exposure among artisanal small-scale gold miners in developing countries

2013 ◽  
Vol 87 (6) ◽  
pp. 579-590 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anders Kasper Bruun Kristensen ◽  
Jane Frølund Thomsen ◽  
Sigurd Mikkelsen
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Mercury Exposure ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Gold Miners

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 The Agonies of Covid 19 on Vegetable Farmers Along the White Volta River Basin in the Upper East Region of Ghana

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (03) ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Benjamin Bilalam Jabik
Keyword(s):  
River Basin ◽  
Household Income ◽  
Supply And Demand ◽  
Qualitative Approach ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Income Levels ◽  
Vegetable Farmers ◽  
East Region ◽  
Upper East Region ◽  
Hired Labor

The emergence of COVID 19 coupled with the enforcement of its safety protocols, coincided with the peak of harvesting and saleof perishable vegetables in the 2020 dry season farming period in the Upper East Region of Ghana.Using a qualitative approach, this study investigates the effects of the pandemic on vegetable farmers along the White Volta River Basin in the Region. The findings are that there weredisrupted supply and demand in the production-consumption chain resulting in low sales; a shortage of hired labor; and high stigmatization. Farmers had few alternatives other than to leave their food stuff to rot on the farm, use the produce to feed livestock, or smuggleof the produce across borders. The implications are that the COVID 19 pandemic compounded the susceptibility of small-scale vegetable farmers in the region. Their resilience and household income levels are adversely affected.

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