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Mercury health effects among the workers extracting gold from carpets and dusted clays through amalgamation and roasting processes

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Abstract

Mercury (Hg) is a highly toxic metal which can cause serious health effects. The aim of this research was to determine the concentrations of total Hg (T-Hg), methyl Hg (Me-Hg), and inorganic Hg (I-Hg) in the biological samples (plasma, red blood cells (RBCs), urine, hair, and nails) of the exposed goldsmith workers. This is the first study that determines the detailed Hg concentrations in the biological samples (plasma, RBCs, urine, hair, and nails) of the exposed goldsmith workers and correlates them with the diseases noted among the workers in a single paper. Biological samples were collected from goldsmith workers (n = 40) and analyzed for T-Hg, Me-Hg, and I-Hg using atomic absorption spectrometer equipped with mercury hydride system. The mean T-Hg concentration in RBCs (33 μg L−1), plasma (11.8 μg L−1), urine (167 μg L−1), hair (4.21 μg g−1), and nails (5.91 μg g−1) were higher than the control RBCs (1.64 μg L−1), plasma (0.55 μg L−1), urine (2.72 μg L−1), hair (0.35 μg g−1), and nails (0.51 μg g−1). All workers participated in this study were suffering from physical and mental diseases. The concentration of Hg was found higher among the workers suffering from mental diseases as compared to those suffering from physical diseases. Among the physical diseases, the most serious diseases were sexual dysfunction, skin diseases, and fatigue because the workers suffering from these diseases had higher concentration of Hg than the workers with other diseases. The occurrence of physical diseases (88 %) was greater than the mental diseases (53 %) among the workers. The correlations of physical and mental diseases with experience (years of work) and exposure time were significant (p < 0.05), while nonsignificant (p > 0.05) correlation was observed between demographic parameters and Hg concentrations in the biological samples of the workers. The burning process of amalgamated gold is a significant source of Hg exposure to goldsmith workers; therefore, awareness and precautionary measures are needed to provide protection to them.

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Acknowledgments

This research work was financed by the Higher Education Commission (HEC), Pakistan, and the University of Peshawar. We would like to thank the Director, National Center of Excellence in Geology, University of Peshawar, for providing the instrumental facilities.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Science, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, 25120, Pakistan

    Nayab Gul & Sardar Khan

  2. Drug Control Administration, Health Department, Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Peshawar, 25120, Pakistan

    Abbas Khan

  3. Department of Environmental Sciences, Fatima Jinnah Women University, The Mall Road, Rawalpindi, Pakistan

    Sheikh Saeed Ahmad

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  1. Nayab Gul
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  2. Sardar Khan
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  3. Abbas Khan
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  4. Sheikh Saeed Ahmad
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Correspondence to Sardar Khan.

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Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues

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Gul, N., Khan, S., Khan, A. et al. Mercury health effects among the workers extracting gold from carpets and dusted clays through amalgamation and roasting processes. Environ Sci Pollut Res 22, 17965–17974 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-015-4952-2

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