Mercury Exposure Assessment and Spatial Distribution in A Ghanaian Small-Scale Gold Mining Community

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Mozhgon RajaeeNiladri Basu

Abstract

Mercury is utilized worldwide in artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) and may pose a risk for miners and mining communities. While a number of studies have characterized mercury in ASGM communities, most have focused on a single media and few have taken a holistic approach. Here, a multiple media exposure assessment and cross-sectional study of mercury was conducted in 2010 through 2012 in northeast Ghana with a small-scale gold mining community, Kejetia, a subsistence farming community, Gorogo, and an urban ASGM gold refinery in Bolgatanga. The objective was to assess mercury in a range of human (urine and hair) and ecological (household soil, sediment, fish, and ore) samples to increase understanding of mercury exposure pathways. All participants were interviewed on demographics, occupational and medical histories, and household characteristics. Participants included 90 women of childbearing age and 97 adults from Kejetia and 75 adults from Gorogo. Median total specific gravity-adjusted urinary, hair, and household soil mercury were significantly higher in Kejetia miners (5.18 µg/L, 0.967 µg/g, and 3.77 µg/g, respectively) than Kejetia non-miners (1.18 µg/L, 0.419 µg/g, and 2.00 µg/g, respectively) and Gorogo particip...Continue Reading

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Citations

Sep 24, 2015·International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health·Niladri BasuRachel N Long
Oct 31, 2015·International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health·Russell DowlingYaw Amoyaw-Osei
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Jun 8, 2018·Tropical Medicine & International Health : TM & IH·Michael O MirekuFlorence Bodeau-Livinec
Jan 1, 2019·Journal of Environmental Science and Health. Part A, Toxic/hazardous Substances & Environmental Engineering·Martina UmlaufováPavel Tlustoš
May 19, 2018·International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health·Paul E OuboterJeffrey K Wickliffe
May 15, 2020·Annals of Global Health·Mahmoud Ali FadlallahJoyee S Chatterjee
Jun 9, 2020·Journal of Health & Pollution·Mercy Wendy WanyanaJohn C Ssempebwa
May 1, 2021·International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health·Katherine von StackelbergErnesto Sánchez-Triana
Sep 23, 2021·Environmental Science and Pollution Research International·Alex Kwasi Saim

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Software Mentioned

ASGM
Kejetia
SPSS
ArcGIS

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