Why is Artisanal Gold Mining Dangerous?
When people think of gold mining, they may likely remember quaint images of people panning for gold sediment by a flowing river, similar to what American settlers did in California during the mid-19th century. Gold mining methods have advanced considerably since then, and even in smaller operations that cannot afford large machinery, amateurs have turned to cheap chemical compounds to help them isolate gold from other minerals. These methods, known as artisanal gold mining, can pose dangers to both miners and the environment, depending on what chemical compounds are used. Among the most common substances is mercury.
How is mercury used to mine gold?
According to the Blacksmith Institute, artisanal miners add mercury to silt, which causes gold particles to collect into an amalgam with the mercury. Blowtorches, open flames or other sources of heat are applied to the amalgam to burn off the mercury and isolate the gold. In the process, gaseous mercury is released into the surrounding area.
Whatever is not inhaled by people collects in the environment, where it can impact various organisms. Rivers, lakes, streams and other bodies of water may become the ultimate destinations for mercury as it collects, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Once in the water, it can bioaccumulate up the food chain in fish, which may get eaten by humans. Mercury that has been consumed through fish and other seafood has been linked to a range of health problems, including arthritis, kidney problems, neurological damage, respiratory failure, psychotic reactions, memory loss, miscarriages and death.
These effects are cause for even more worry considering how widespread artisanal mining is. These small operations tend to be popular in areas stricken by poverty, particularly in Africa, Southeast Asia and Latin America, where abandoned but active gold mines are plentiful. The Blacksmith Institute estimated that at least 25 percent of the world's gold supply is collected through artisanal mining. This process is responsible for about 30 percent of anthropogenic environmental mercury contamination. There are between 10 million and 15 million artisanal and small scale gold miners around the globe. Among these miners are 4.5 million women and 600,000 children.
Probabilistic models provide cheap predictions
Part of rectifying the hazards of artisanal mining is assessing people's level of mercury exposure. Unfortunately, some of the methods used in these evaluations – air sample analysis, fish collection and so on – are not feasible in some of the resource-poor countries where artisanal mining is prevalent.
Environmental and medical scientists who live in areas where artisanal gold mining is common often have few resources to assess the full impact of the practice. One team of researchers from the Environmental Geochemistry Research and Engineering Laboratory of the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid in Spain devised a way to measure these negative effects using probabilistic models, as published in the journal Chemosphere. This strategy involved collecting data surrounding 12 gold mines in Colombia, including biometrics, lifestyle, consumption, air sample analyses from amalgamation workshops and nearby roads, and fish evaluations.
Results suggested that mercury exposure exceeded acceptable limits around these mines by up to 200 times. Even within the mining population, exposure was up to 50 times more than recommended limits.
The UPM researchers reiterated that their tool cannot completely replace clinical assessments of the dangers of mercury exposure from artisanal mining. However, it may be useful in estimating the negative impact, particularly within communities that would benefit from cheaper strategies.
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About the Author
Susan Massie, Sales & Marketing Director, Greyhound Chromatography and Allied Chemicals Email: sue@greyhoundchrom.com
Susan Massie is the Sales & Marketing Director for Greyhound Chromatography and Allied Chemicals, affectionately known as 'Greyhound' in our scientific community. Greyhound was founded by Susan's husband Paul Massie more than 40 years ago, Susan hasn't been in the business for all of that time but has been involved with Greyhound for over 17 years. Greyhound continues to grow, expanding into new markets and taking on the challenges of our ever changing environment. It's heartwarming to witness the world waking up to the fact that we are damaging our planet on a daily basis. Every action we take has a direct effect on our planet and the world we leave behind for future generations. Susan is passionate about climate change and is happy to work in an industry that can have a direct effect on reducing the impact of our actions on the environment. All of the team at Greyhound take our responsibilities very seriously, the products that we supply are used by the world's leading scientists and chemists as they endeavour to monitor and repair the environment. All is not lost, if we all take responsibility for our actions, from reducing our waste and reusing or recycling our material collateral we can make a difference. The internet is full of useful advice and guidance, Susan is proud to contribute to that wealth of knowledge whenever she can.
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