Analisis Kadar Merkuri Dalam Rambut Penambang Emas Desa Alue Baro Kecamatan Meukek Secara Spektrofotometri Serapan Atom

The activity of using mercury in gold mining in Alue Baro Village, Meukek District is carried out freely so that it has a negative impact on the environment and the health of the miners. This study aims to determine the level of mercury in the hair of artisanal gold miners in Alue Baro village by referring to the reference that has been set by WHO. The data sample collection was carried out by taking 6 hair samples from the Alue Baro village gold miners who were selected with various types of work, namely gold processing, waste processing and waste waste until the time of the interview with a minimum working period of 1 year with sample codes R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 and R6 as control samples. The six samples were analyzed using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry equipped with a Mercury Analyzer which showed results, respectively, 1.01; 2.38; 1.65; 1.35; 1.66; and 0.64 ppm. The results of this study indicate that all hair samples have mercury levels above the mercury threshold that has been set by WHO, namely 1 ppm. High levels of mercury in hair samples were analyzed on exposure to mercury. Further research was conducted to analyze other metals contained in the hair of gold miners in Alue Baro village

Comfortable contemplation

<p>Through the design of memorial baths on the West Coast, this thesis proposes that through an increased understanding and interpretation of place identity, memorialisation can precipitate a process of understanding and healing. This process leads the visitor to gain a heightened level of mental wellbeing. This research sheds light on, and provides an alternative to, the present state of memorials in New Zealand, identifying them as places to heal. It provides a solution of a memorial that connects people, their thoughts and memories to architecture. This is achieved through the application of the Kessler – Kübler-Ross model by facilitating participants’ experience of grief through the bargaining, depression and acceptance stages. This thesis proposes an architectural solution that sufficiently memorializes lost gold miners of the West Coast and their way of life. It also enquires into the somewhat aberrant architectural culture and identity of the West Coast and identifies methods of preserving this architectural regionalism before it is lost. This quickly disappearing West Coast identity and architectural regionalism becomes a further stimulant for memorialisation. The architectural form and composition respond to mining history and the miner’s way of life. This memorial, located deep within the Southern Alps hosts a series of natural thermal baths and contemplative spaces that prompt reflection and inner thought, transporting the visitor toward an improved level of mental wellbeing through a means of triggering memory, and providing spaces that prompt contemplation.</p>

Comfortable contemplation

<p>Through the design of memorial baths on the West Coast, this thesis proposes that through an increased understanding and interpretation of place identity, memorialisation can precipitate a process of understanding and healing. This process leads the visitor to gain a heightened level of mental wellbeing. This research sheds light on, and provides an alternative to, the present state of memorials in New Zealand, identifying them as places to heal. It provides a solution of a memorial that connects people, their thoughts and memories to architecture. This is achieved through the application of the Kessler – Kübler-Ross model by facilitating participants’ experience of grief through the bargaining, depression and acceptance stages. This thesis proposes an architectural solution that sufficiently memorializes lost gold miners of the West Coast and their way of life. It also enquires into the somewhat aberrant architectural culture and identity of the West Coast and identifies methods of preserving this architectural regionalism before it is lost. This quickly disappearing West Coast identity and architectural regionalism becomes a further stimulant for memorialisation. The architectural form and composition respond to mining history and the miner’s way of life. This memorial, located deep within the Southern Alps hosts a series of natural thermal baths and contemplative spaces that prompt reflection and inner thought, transporting the visitor toward an improved level of mental wellbeing through a means of triggering memory, and providing spaces that prompt contemplation.</p>

Socio-Epidemiological Features and Spatial Distribution of Malaria in an Area under Mining Activity in the Brazilian Amazon Region

Malaria is an acute febrile infectious disease that represents an important public health problem in the Brazilian amazon region. The present study described the socio-epidemiological and spatial characteristics of malaria in a population from the Tapajós mining areas, Pará, Brazilian Amazon. A cross-sectional study, including individuals from Itaituba city, an area under mining activity influence, was conducted. The geographic coordinates were obtained in the field using the Global Positioning System (GPS) Garmin 78csx; for spatial analysis, we used the Kernel Density Estimator with the application of scanning statistics with the SaTScan software. Of the 908 individuals, 311 were positive for malaria. Most of the malaria cases were associated with male individuals, gold miners and with a monthly income of 4-6 salaries. Binary logistic regression analysis demonstrated that gold miners were nearly five times more likely to acquire malaria. In addition, a context of risk for sexually transmitted infections, substance abuse and poor support conditions was observed, worsening the healthcare scenario in this endemic area for malaria. The spatial distribution of malaria cases is irregular in the municipality with hotspot areas located in the Amana Flona that coincide with areas of illegal mining and high human mobility. Finally, the presented socio-epidemiological and spatial distribution data may aid in the development of more effective control measures for malaria in the area.

Malaria Care-Seeking and Treatment Ideation among Gold Miners in Guyana

Background Although miners are a priority population in malaria elimination in Guyana, scant literature exists on the drivers of malaria-related behaviour. This study explores the relationship between gold miners’ malaria-related ideation and the adoption of malaria care-seeking and treatment behaviours including prompt care-seeking, malaria testing, and self-medication. Methods Data are from a cross-sectional quantitative survey of 1685 adult miners between the ages of 18–59 years who live in mining camps in Regions 1, 7, and 8. The analysis focused on miners who reported an episode of fever in the past year (n = 745). Malaria care-seeking and treatment ideation was defined as a composite additive score consisting of the following variables: general malaria knowledge, perceived severity, perceived susceptibility, beliefs, perceived self-efficacy, perceived norms, interpersonal communication, and perceived response efficacy. Multivariable logistic regressions explored the relationship between ideation on care-seeking/treatment behaviours, controlling for confounding variables. Results Most miners with a recent episode of fever had perceived risk (92%), self-efficacy (67%), susceptibility (53%) and high malaria knowledge (53%). Overall, miners' care-seeking/treatment ideation score ranged from 0 to 8 with a mean of 4.1. Ideation scores were associated with higher odds of care-seeking for fever (aOR:1.19; 95% CI: 1.04–1.36), getting tested for malaria (aOR: 1.22; 95% CI: 1.07–1.38) and lower odds of self-medication (aOR: 0.87; 95% CI: 0.77–0.99). Conclusions A national community case management initiative is using study findings as part of its scale-up, using volunteers to make testing and treatment services more accessible to miners. This is complemented by a multi-channel mass media campaign to improve miners’ ideation. Communication messages focus on increasing miners’ knowledge of malaria transmission and symptoms, encourage positive beliefs about malaria testing and volunteer testers, promote evidence about the effectiveness of testing, and reminders of how quick and easy it is to get a malaria test with the community case management initiative. Study findings also have implications for efforts to eliminate malaria across the Guiana Shield.