A Collaborative Training Program to Assess Mercury Pollution from Gold Shops in Guyana’s Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining Sector

Abstract

<jats:p> A three-phase, 11-day training program designed to monitor elemental mercury (Hg0) emissions originating from gold shops was conducted in Georgetown and Bartica, Guyana, during May of 2019. The first phase consisted of interactive lectures and discussions on mercury use in artisanal and small-scale gold mining throughout Guyana, the region, and the world. In addition, specific training in the theory and use of analytical instrumentation to quantify Hg0 pollution associated with the processing of amalgams and sponge gold occurred. Trainees participated in the mapping of smelting facilities in Georgetown where, outside of one gold shop, Hg0 concentrations exceeded 100,000 ng/m3. During the second phase of training, a subset of trainees traveled to Bartica, where they mapped the town center to identify point sources of Hg0 pollution, all of which corresponded to the location of shops where amalgams and sponge gold were heated and purchased. Once mapped, Hg0 concentrations were measured during the smelting of gold inside the Guyana Gold Board (GGB) facility and two privately-owned gold shops. Maximum Hg0 concentrations at the GGB facility did not exceed 98,700 ng/m3 during the measurement period, while maximum concentrations at the two privately owned shops were measured as 527,500 ng/m3 and 302,200 ng/m3. With guidance from the training team, trainees were responsible for the collection and interpretation of all data. The third phase of the training involved the collaborative production of a report summarizing the findings from the training. This work represents the first formal training opportunity for the assessment of Hg0 concentrations in and around gold shops in Guyana, and provides baseline data to assist the government of Guyana to generate air quality standards for Hg0 emissions.</jats:p>

Simulating Instrument Design in an Upper Level Instrumental Analysis Course: Bringing the Laboratory into the Lecture Hall

“…As the original research paper originated at Mercer University, students connected this work to Hg 0 pollution on their own without prompting. If instructors wish to call attention to this application, some introductory and background material for this application could be provided to students. − With respect to real-world applications of the activity, students responded with “[This activity] helped me connect AAS with something real.” “It helped think about real-world applications and how someone would solve these issues.” “This gives real life applications of the course materials, which I really appreciate.” …”

“…Finally, the last two clips (3:53–4:23 and 5:45–6:05) were played, which focus on the operation of the instrument and sampling method used to determine the Hg 0 vapor concentrations, respectively. Students were then informed that this was an example of research done at Mercer by faculty with undergraduate students on commercially available items, how this specific technique is used to monitor Hg 0 in artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) communities, and that these results had been published in the primary literature. , …”

Human health risk assessment of atmospheric mercury inhalation around three artisanal small-scale gold mining areas in Indonesia

“…4 Generally, such equipment cannot be installed in ASGM areas. Because of the difficulty of measuring atmospheric mercury, relatively few studies have focused on concentrations of GEM in the atmosphere [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13] compared to studies of mercury in other environmental media and its level of risk to humans.…”

Method for mapping Hg0 emissions from gold shops in artisanal and small-scale gold mining communities

“…Unfortunately, gold shops are often poorly ventilated, and Hg 0 emitted during burning is often vented into the shop and/or onto the street or sidewalk immediately outside of the shop. As a result, gold shops are the major source of Hg 0 pollution in these communities and represent a threat to both human and environmental health [6] , [7] , [8] , [9] , [10] .…”