Reduced egfr, elevated urine protein and low level of personal protective equipment compliance among artisanal small scale gold miners at Bibiani-Ghana: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

BackgroundMercury is a toxic metal with its effects on human health ranging from acute to chronic in a very short time of exposure. Artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) is the main source of direct human exposure to mercury.AimTo access the effect of mercury exposure on the renal function and level of personal protective equipment (PPE) compliance among small-scale gold miners in Bibiani District of the Western Region of GhanaMethod110 consenting male gold miners were purposively recruited for this study. A structured questionnaire was used to collect socio-demographic information from the participants. Work place assessment and interviews were conducted. Urine samples were analysed for protein; blood was analysed for mercury and creatinine. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was calculated using the chronic kidney disease-epidemiology collaboration (CKD-EPI) equation.ResultsOf the 110 participants, 61(55.5%) exceeded the occupational exposure threshold (blood mercury <5μg/L). Urine protein (41.72±68.34, P<0.0001), serum creatinine (2.24±1.19, P<0.0001) and blood mercury (18.37±10.47, P<0.0001) were significantly elevated among the exposed group compared to the non-exposed group. However, the exposed group had a significantly reduced eGFR (P<0.0001). There was a significant correlation (r=0.7338, p<0.0001) between blood mercury concentration and urine protein concentration. An increase in blood mercury correlated negatively (r = −0.8233, P<0.0001) with eGFR among the exposed group. High urine protein (P< 0.0001) and high serum creatinine (P< 0.0001) were significantly associated with increased mercury exposure. Increased mercury exposure was significantly associated with burning of amalgam (P=0.0196), sucking of excess mercury (P=0.0336), longer work duration (P=0.0314) and low educational background (P=0.0473).ConclusionSmall scale miners at the Bibiani work site are exposed to excess mercury. Proteinuria and reduced eGFR is common in mine workers exposed to excess mercury. We found poor PPE compliance among the study population.

Variation in thyroid hormone levels is associated with elevated blood mercury levels among artisanal small-scale miners in Ghana

“…Occupational mercury exposure levels have been linked to several factors including the number of years of exposure, type and nature of mercury and state of mercury [ 22 ]. In line with our current data, previous studies conducted in South Africa [ 23 ], Venezuela [ 24 ] and Ghana [ 14 , 25 ] have demonstrated that a high percentage of small scale miners are exposed to mercury above the occupational threshold. Mercury toxicity is characteristically insidious [ 26 ] which supports our finding that extended work duration is associated with increased blood mercury level among small-scale miners.…”

“…The method for blood mercury analysis was similar to the procedure reported in our earlier study [ 14 ]. Wet digestion of blood mercury was performed at research the laboratory in the School of Agricultural of the University of Cape Coast.…”

“…Most of these miners work with mercury without enough protection and education on the safe use of mercury. However emerging studies have tried to shed light on some of the negative consequences of small-scale mining from different perspectives [ 12 – 14 ]. These include studies geared towards regulating ASGM practices [ 12 ], ASGM and living conditions as well as effect of ASGM on neurotoxic health risk [ 13 ].…”

“…These include studies geared towards regulating ASGM practices [ 12 ], ASGM and living conditions as well as effect of ASGM on neurotoxic health risk [ 13 ]. Also, we have previously reported a reduced estimated glomerular filtration rate, elevated urine protein and low level of personal protective equipment compliance among artisanal small-scale gold miners at Bibiani in Ghana [ 14 ]. Our current study is the first to report on the association of blood mercury levels with thyroid hormone variations among small-scale gold miners in the Sub-Saharan Africa region.…”

Integration of health and safety risk management into the implementation of gold processing technology in artisanal and small scale mining (ASM) communities in the Philippines

“…There were studies on the neurotoxicity of mercury (Sheehan et al 2014;Bose-O'Reilly et al 2012), other forms of biomonitoring studies (Sanders et al 2014) and mercury level measurements in the environment (Gonzalez-Merizalde 2016). There were still those who focus their studies on the mercury levels on human hair (Langeland et al 2017) and urine and blood samples (Afrifa et al 2017).…”