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Mercury Exposure in Artisanal Mining: Assessing the Effect of Occupational Activities on Blood Mercury Levels Among Artisanal and Small-Scale Goldminers in Ghana

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Abstract

A cross-sectional survey of 425 male artisanal and small-scale goldminers (ASGM) was conducted to examine the relationship between the occupational activities of the miners and their blood mercury levels while controlling for relevant biosocial and socio-cultural factors. The data was subjected to descriptive and inferential statistics. Initial findings showed that 43.29% of the ASGM miners had blood mercury levels above the occupational exposure threshold. Among the occupational factors, ASGM miners who amalgamate gold, burn amalgam, and ASGM miners who smelt gold were 2.260, 1.881, and 2.094 times respectively more likely to have high blood mercury levels as compared to ASGM miners who did not carry out these activities. Also, ASGM miners who suck excess mercury with their mouth (OR = 0.197, p < 0.001) were less likely to have high blood mercury levels. For the biosocial and socio-cultural attributes, high blood mercury levels was less likely among older ASGM miners (OR = 0.507, p < 0.05). Inversely, high blood mercury levels was more likely among ASGM miners who are married (OR = 1.627, p < 0.05), ASGM miners with junior (OR = 2.240, p < 0.001) and senior (OR = 1.575, p < 0.05) high school education, and ASGM miners who have 6–10 years (OR = 3.802, p < 0.001) and above 10 years (OR = 2.591, p < 0.001) work experience. ASGM miners who amalgamate gold, burn amalgam, and smelt gold are exposed to mercury and are at risk of mercury poisoning. This could, however, be minimized with the right capturing devices and personal protective equipment. This notwithstanding, unsafe, and unsustainable occupational practices such as working in mercury contaminated water and sucking excess mercury with the mouth should be discouraged.

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Availability of Data and Material

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geosciences, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan, 030024, People’s Republic of China

    Benjamin M. Saalidong

  2. Department of Environmental Science, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana

    Simon Appah Aram

  3. College of Safety and Emergency Management Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan, 030024, People’s Republic of China

    Simon Appah Aram

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  1. Benjamin M. Saalidong
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Contributions

Conceptualization: Benjamin M. Saalidong and Simon Appah Aram. Formal analysis: Benjamin M. Saalidong and Simon Appah Aram. Writing — review and editing: Benjamin M. Saalidong and Simon Appah Aram. Writing — original draft: Benjamin M. Saalidong and Simon Appah Aram.

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Correspondence to Simon Appah Aram.

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Ethical approval was sought from the Ghana Health Service Ethical Review Committee (GHS-ERC216/12/19).

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Written consent was sought from the participants before the study as required by the minerals commission of Ghana.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Saalidong, B.M., Aram, S.A. Mercury Exposure in Artisanal Mining: Assessing the Effect of Occupational Activities on Blood Mercury Levels Among Artisanal and Small-Scale Goldminers in Ghana. Biol Trace Elem Res 200, 4256–4266 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-021-03025-1

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