Artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) takes place under extreme conditions with a lack of occupational health and safety. As the demand for metals is increasing due in part to their extensive use in ‘green technologies’ for climate change mitigation, the negative environmental and occupational consequences of mining practices are disproportionately felt in low- and middle-income countries. The Collegium Ramazzini statement on ASM presents updated information on its neglected health hazards that include multiple toxic hazards, most notably mercury, lead, cyanide, arsenic, cadmium, and cobalt, as well as physical hazards, most notably airborne dust and noise, and the high risk of infectious diseases. These hazards affect both miners and mining communities as working and living spaces are rarely separated. The impact on children and women is often severe, including hazardous exposures during the child-bearing age and pregnancies, and the risk of child labor. We suggest strategies for the mitigation of these hazards and classify those according to primordial, primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention. Further, we identify knowledge gaps and issue recommendations for international, national, and local governments, metal purchasers, and employers are given. With this statement, the Collegium Ramazzini calls for the extension of efforts to minimize all hazards that confront ASM miners and their families.

3-D printers are widely used. Based on previous findings, we hypothesized that their emissions could enhance allergen responsiveness and reduce lung diffusing capacity.Using a cross-over design, 28 young subjects with seasonal allergic rhinitis were exposed to 3-D printer emissions, either from polylactic acid (PLA) or from acrylonitrile butadiene styrene copolymer (ABS), for 2 h each. Ninety minutes later, nasal allergen challenges were performed, with secretions sampled after 1.5 h. Besides nasal functional and inflammatory responses, assessments included diffusing capacity. There was also an inclusion day without exposure. The exposures elicited slight reductions in lung diffusing capacity for inhaled nitric oxide (DL NO ) that were similar for PLA and ABS. Rhinomanometry showed the same allergen responses after both exposures.In nasal secretions, concentrations of interleukin 6 and tumor necrosis factor were slightly reduced after ABS exposure versus inclusion day, while that of interleukin 5 was slightly increased after PLA exposure versus inclusion.

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Artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) is often associated with no or compromised attention to health and safety. Although headlines of fatal accidents in Zimbabwe characterise ASGM, little attention is paid to prevention strategies. This study, therefore, explores health and safety risk mitigation in ASGM in Zimbabwe to inform prevention strategies. A qualitative design was used with focus group discussions and in-depth interviews. Data were analysed using thematic analysis, coding, and descriptive statistics. Reported factors contributing to compromised health and safety included immediate causes, workplace factors, ASM related factors, and contextual factors, with interconnectedness between the causal factors. In addition, factors related to ASGM were significant. For risk mitigation, formalisation, organisation of risk reduction, behaviour change, and enforcement of prevention strategies is proposed. A multi-causal analysis is recommended for risk assessment and accident investigation. A multi-stakeholder approach could be considered for risk mitigation including community and public health interventions. However, risk mitigation has been characterised by gaps and weaknesses such as lacking ASM policy, lack of capital, poor enforcement, negative perceptions, and non-compliance. Therefore, we recommend addressing the threats associated with health and safety mitigation to ensure health and safety protection in ASGM.