Mercury in fish: a critical examination of gold mining and human contamination in Ghana

Tschakert, Petra

doi:10.1504/ijep.2010.033232

Cited by 10 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…Evidence of mercury poisoning has been identified in illegal mining sites affecting soil for food cultivation and drinking water in communities close to river bodies such as the Birim, Enu, Pra, Bonsa and Ankobra (Tschakert, 2010). However, following the large scale of mining in Ghana, there may be other water bodies that have been badly polluted by mercury but have not been determined.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Known and anticipated medical geology issues in Ghana

Kazapoe

Arhin²,

Amuah

2021

EFCC

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Purpose This paper aims to review the known and anticipated medical geology problems in Ghana, to highlight the impact of some trace elements on human health and to reveal some essential aspects of medical geology on health. Design/methodology/approach Literature and empirical studies relating to medical geological issues in Ghana were reviewed. Secondary data were used in the present study such as case studies, reports, geological bulletins and published research studies. Findings High levels of heavy metals including arsenic, cadmium and mercury in gold extraction processes through artisanal small-scale mining have contributed to high concentrations of toxic elements in the environment. The distribution and availability of these elements in the environment are facilitated by the geological, chemical and local environmental activities that are irregularly spread exposing people mining areas to pollutions. Exposures to these elements in above and below baseline levels contributed to health implications including fluorosis, intellectual or developmental disability and death in some regions of Ghana. Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases linked to mining activities were also presented in this study. Similarly, non-communicable diseases can affect many people if correct measures are not considered. Following the geometric increase in mining activities, it is anticipated that deleterious environmental and health impacts associated with mining may persist in mining areas in Ghana. Reported implications and continuous contamination of water bodies in mining areas could result in high pollution levels beyond treatment for human use or destroy aquatic habitats and aquatic lives through acid drainage. Above-threshold concentrations of heavy metals in soils could bio-accumulate in crops, and this could pose deleterious public health implications on consumers. Continuous effects posed on the environment and public health may prompt communities, regulatory institutions and government to reduce or ban mineral development. Originality/value This review has significantly revealed potential public health issues from the impact on the natural environment and recommends that medical geologists work together with medical workers to devise preventive and therapeutic techniques to address many geology-related-health issues in Ghana.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Known and anticipated medical geology issues in Ghana

Kazapoe

Arhin²,

Amuah

2021

EFCC

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“…In addition, the policy challenges associated with mercury use and environmental stewardship of the miners have been researched extensively (13,14,15,16,17,18).…”

Section: Impact Of Mercury On the Public Health Of Small-scale Miningmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Lantern Retort for Small-Scale Gold Extraction

Amankwah¹,

Ofori-Sarpong

2014

IJEPP

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Abstract:Two major retorts used in small-scale gold mining operations to reduce mercury emissions, during amalgam distillation are the steel and thermex retorts. Steel retorts are not very popular due to the reported darkening of gold after retorting. In addition, its opaque nature prevents miners from observing the process directly. The Thermex glass retort introduced by the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) is also not patronised due to the extended heating periods resulting from the low thermal conductivity of glass. This paper describes a new retort, the Lantern retort, a combination of highly conductive steel with transparent glass, and therefore, a potential solution to the above concerns. The Lantern retort has a shorter warm-up and amalgam distillation time, and the rate of heating is 1.81 o C/s while that of the Thermex is 1.49 o C/s. For an amalgam of mass 20 g, 900 s was required to carry out complete distillation in the Lantern retort as against 2100 s in the Thermex. The height of the distillation column of the Lantern retort required to reduce mercury loss to below 1%, as it is with the Thermex retort, is 2.5 cm. Other advantages of the Lantern retort are that, it is less expensive and can withstand the harsh terrain of small-scale gold mining.

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