The Mercury Problem in Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining

Chemistry : a European Journal
Louisa J Esdaile, Justin M Chalker

Abstract

Mercury-dependent artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) is the largest source of mercury pollution on Earth. In this practice, elemental mercury is used to extract gold from ore as an amalgam. The amalgam is typically isolated by hand and then heated-often with a torch or over a stove-to distill the mercury and isolate the gold. Mercury release from tailings and vaporized mercury exceed 1000 tonnes each year from ASGM. The health effects on the miners are dire, with inhaled mercury leading to neurological damage and other health issues. The communities near these mines are also affected due to mercury contamination of water and soil and subsequent accumulation in food staples, such as fish-a major source of dietary protein in many ASGM regions. The risks to children are also substantial, with mercury emissions from ASGM resulting in both physical and mental disabilities and compromised development. Between 10 and 19 million people use mercury to mine for gold in more than 70 countries, making mercury pollution from ASGM a global issue. With the Minamata Convention on Mercury entering force this year, there is political motivation to help overcome the problem of mercury in ASGM. In this effort, chemists can play a central...Continue Reading

References

Jun 17, 1999·The Science of the Total Environment·J D AppletonC Miranda
Sep 22, 2000·The American Journal of Emergency Medicine·M T SolisP J Goebel
Sep 7, 2002·Environmental Science & Technology·Markus HaitzerJoseph N Ryan
May 13, 2003·Environmental Toxicology·Paul B TchounwouDwayne Sutton
Jul 6, 2004·Environmental Pollution·Qianrui WangDennis Timberlake
Sep 14, 2006·International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health·Samuel J SpiegelMarcello M Veiga
Mar 7, 2008·Environmental Research·Stephan Bose-O'ReillyGustav Drasch
Jul 15, 2009·Journal of Hazardous Materials·Tanja Radu, Dermot Diamond
Oct 3, 2009·Food Additives & Contaminants. Part A, Chemistry, Analysis, Control, Exposure & Risk Assessment·R T Chibunda, C R Janssen
Mar 17, 2011·Environmental Science & Technology·George R AikenJoseph N Ryan
May 15, 2012·Journal of Hazardous Materials·Jianxu WangLihai Shang
Dec 12, 2012·Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health = Yebang Ŭihakhoe Chi·Jung-Duck Park, Wei Zheng
May 23, 2013·Nature Chemistry·Woo Jin ChungJeffrey Pyun
May 29, 2014·The Science of the Total Environment·Jacopo SeccatoreGiorgio De Tomi
Jun 18, 2014·The Science of the Total Environment·Anton ScheuhammerMark Wayland
Dec 3, 2014·Environment International·Jingying XuJurate Kumpiene
Jan 13, 2015·Environmental Science. Processes & Impacts·Sarah E DiringerHeileen Hsu-Kim
Sep 8, 2015·International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health·Samuel J CobbinaNoel Bakobie
Oct 16, 2015·New Solutions : a Journal of Environmental and Occupational Health Policy : NS·Rasmus Køster-RasmussenJane F Thomsen
Nov 12, 2015·The Science of the Total Environment·José Marrugo-NegreteSergi Díez
Mar 5, 2016·Chemical Communications : Chem Comm·T HasellS M Howdle
Apr 3, 2016·Environmental Monitoring and Assessment·Crentsil Kofi Bempah, Anthony Ewusi
Jun 10, 2016·Nature·Barbara Fraser
Jun 18, 2017·Annals of Global Health·Nadine StecklingStephan Bose-O'Reilly
Jun 29, 2017·Environment International·Carlos Salazar-CamachoSergi Díez
Aug 2, 2017·Chemistry : a European Journal·Max J H WorthingtonJustin M Chalker
Jul 20, 2016·Polymers·Michael W ThielkePatrick Theato

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Oct 6, 2018·Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry·Maximilian MannJustin M Chalker
May 22, 2019·Topics in Current Chemistry·Justin M ChalkerLouisa J Esdaile
Jun 22, 2019·Biological Trace Element Research·Juan Valdelamar-Villegas, Jesus Olivero-Verbel
Nov 26, 2019·Environmental Health Perspectives·Lindsey Konkel
Jul 1, 2020·International Journal of Phytoremediation·Andrew N RollinsonTanja Radu
Oct 4, 2020·Biological Trace Element Research·Priscila Cunha NascimentoRafael Rodrigues Lima
May 26, 2018·Journal of Fungi·Alexander Batista-DuharteIracilda Zeppone Carlos
May 19, 2019·International Journal of Molecular Sciences·Tetsuya Takahashi, Takayoshi Shimohata
Jul 2, 2019·Journal of Health & Pollution·Anita Vazquez Tibau, Blanche D Grube
Jun 9, 2020·Journal of Health & Pollution·Mercy Wendy WanyanaJohn C Ssempebwa
Feb 9, 2019·Nature Communications·Xiaofeng WuTom Hasell
Jun 14, 2019·Frontiers in Public Health·Justice AfrifaRosemary Doe Sorkpor
Feb 18, 2020·Environmental Science and Pollution Research International·Lilian Rodrigues Rosa SouzaMárcia Andreia Mesquita Silva da Veiga
Feb 14, 2019·Cadernos de saúde pública·Angélica Dos Santos ViannaVolney de Magalhães Câmara
Sep 3, 2020·Journal of Health & Pollution·Aung Zaw TunWattasit Siriwong
Sep 19, 2020·Toxicological Sciences : an Official Journal of the Society of Toxicology·Luz Helena Sánchez RodríguezOscar Flórez-Vargas
Nov 13, 2020·Environment International·Clelia Calao-RamosSergi Díez
Dec 22, 2020·The Science of the Total Environment·J A Gamboa-HerreraL Y Vargas-Fiallo
Feb 11, 2021·International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health·Hermínio CossaMirko S Winkler
Mar 29, 2021·Journal of Environmental Management·Manuel Gabriel Velásquez RamírezDennis Del Castillo Torres
Apr 4, 2021·The Science of the Total Environment·Abigail BarenblittDanielle Wood
May 1, 2021·Molecules : a Journal of Synthetic Chemistry and Natural Product Chemistry·Hikmanita Lisan NashukhaKanchana Uraisin
May 1, 2021·International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health·Katherine von StackelbergErnesto Sánchez-Triana
Jun 3, 2021·Chemical Communications : Chem Comm·Maximilian MannJustin M Chalker
Jun 2, 2021·Food and Chemical Toxicology : an International Journal Published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association·Ehsan H Abu-ZeidShereen El Abdel-Hamid
Jul 30, 2020·Journal of Environmental Management·Anastasios ChalkidisSuresh K Bhargava
Jul 7, 2021·Journal of Colloid and Interface Science·Bowen ZhangTom Hasell
Aug 1, 2021·Environmental Monitoring and Assessment·Arlette A Camacho-delaCruzFernando Díaz-Barriga
Jul 7, 2018·ACS Nano·Moien AlizadehgiashiEugenia Kumacheva
Jan 20, 2019·Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta. General Subjects·Pablo A NogaraJoão B T Rocha

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Methods Mentioned

BETA
X‐ray
thermal treatment

Software Mentioned

ASGM

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.