Non-Cancer Health Risk Assessment from Exposure to Cyanide by Resident Adults from the Mining Operations of Bogoso Gold Limited in Ghana

Abstract

Cyanide is a very toxic chemical that is used to extract gold from its ores. Wastewaters from gold mining companies such as Bogoso Gold Limited (BGL) contain cyanide and other potentially toxic chemicals that have adverse effects on human beings and aquatic organisms. This study was conducted to evaluate the human health risk assessment from exposure to free cyanide via oral and dermal contact of surface/underground water by resident adults within the concession of Bogoso Gold Limited. The chronic non-cancer health risk from exposure to cyanide in River Bogo Upstream is 230 and 43 (by Central Tendency Exposure (CTE) parameters respectively). This means that approximately 230 and 43 resident adults are likely to suffer diseases related to cyanide intoxication via oral and dermal contact respectively. For chronic exposure to River Bogo Downstream by resident adults, the non-cancer health risks are: 0.031 and 0.57 via oral and dermal contact for CTE parameters respectively, which also means that, the non-cancer health risks associated with cyanide intoxication is negligible as the hazard index is less than 1.0 via oral and dermal contacts respectively. The results showed that health risk for acute exposure to cyanide by the resident adults is very high. Hence the residents attribute most of the unexplained deaths in the communities to accidental ingestion and dermal contact of cyanide water.

Environmental Health and Safety Hazards of Indigenous Small-Scale Gold Mining Using Cyanidation in the Philippines

“… 30 In a study in Ghana, cyanide exposure, which was measured via oral and dermal contacts, was found to be high among residents in the gold mining community and posed a health risk for acute toxicity. 31 …”

Current progress on understanding the impact of mercury on human health

“…Even worse off are children working in ASGM areas, performing all different kind of child labor, including handling, inhaling and ingesting toxic mercury (Amon et al, 2012;Kippenberg, 2011). The exposure to mercury leads to increased mercury levels in urine, blood and hair (Bartrem et al, 2014;Hruba et al, 2012;Ohlander et al, 2013). Clinical symptoms of chronic mercury intoxication can be observed (Bose-O'Reilly et al, 2008a).…”

“…Other possible health hazards due to mining are accidents in tunnels, shafts, and open pits, available data is rare (Calys-Tagoe et Hentschel et al, 2002). The use of cyanide is not controlled or monitored, even so possible negative health effects are likely (Donato et al, 2007;Obiri et al, 2006). Other hazards are noise and dust, cadmium, lead and arsenic (Amedofu, 2002;Bartrem et al, 2014;Basu et al, 2015;Basu et al, 2011;Burki, 2012;Chadambuka et al, 2013;Dooyema, 2010;Greig et al, 2014;Lkhasuren et al, 2007;Ono et al, 2012).…”

Championing the Rhetoric?

“…A similar situation persists in Ghana, where in the Tarkwa-Prestea-Bogoso axis, for example, residents only benefit from the frequent re-grading and watering (to reduce dust exposure) of its dirt roads because they are outlets to Gold Fields' Tarkwa and Damang operations, and Golden Star Resources' Bogoso mine. Its operations have also contaminated river water in Dumasi, most recently via cyanide spillage in October 2004 (Obiri et al 2006). Despite the insistence of its CEO, Peter Bradford, that 'Golden Star is proud of the community development projects that it has implemented in Ghana since it began operations in the country in 1999' (Golden Star Resources 2006), the company has, since its takeover of the Bogoso mine in 2005, ceased supplying the residents of Prestea and Bogoso with subsidised electricity, which its predecessor, Bogoso Gold Ltd, did free of charge.…”