Assessment of Total Mercury in Hair, Urine and Fingernails of Small–Scale Gold Miners in the Amansie West District, Ghana
Background. Mercury (Hg) is a heavy metal that can cause several adverse health effects based on its form (organic, inorganic or elemental), duration and pathway of exposure. Measurement of mercury present in human biological media is often used to assess human exposure to mercury at mining sites. O...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Pure Earth
2019-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Health and Pollution |
| Subjects: |
| _version_ | 1819030293357527040 |
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| author | Edward Ebow Kwaansa-Ansah Edward Kwaku Armah Francis Opoku |
| author_facet | Edward Ebow Kwaansa-Ansah Edward Kwaku Armah Francis Opoku |
| author_sort | Edward Ebow Kwaansa-Ansah |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background. Mercury (Hg) is a heavy metal that can cause several adverse health effects based on its form (organic, inorganic or elemental), duration and pathway of exposure. Measurement of mercury present in human biological media is often used to assess human exposure to mercury at mining sites.
Objectives. The aim of the present study was to measure the concentrations of total mercury in urine, hair, and fingernails of miners and inhabitants of Amansie West District, Ghana.
Methods. Concentrations of total mercury were measured in sixty–eight miners and twelve non–miners in the study area using cold vapor atomic absorption spectrophotometry with an automatic mercury analyzer (HG 5000).
Results. Total mercury in nails and hair of smelter miners was 3.32 ± 0.36 and 6.59 ± 0.01 μg/g, respectively. Total mercury concentrations in hair samples obtained from smelter miners were above the 1 μg/g guideline set by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). Moreover, the total mercury concentration in urine samples was 6.97 ± 0.06 μg/L, far below the >25 μg/L level considered to be a high level of mercury contamination. The total mercury accrued by the individuals was not dependent on age, but was positively associated with duration of stay.
Conclusions. Based on the total mercury (THg) levels analyzed in the biological media, artisanal gold mining activities in Amansie West District are on the increase with a potential risk of developing chronic effects. However, the majority of the population, particularly those engaged in artisanal small–scale gold mining, are unmindful of the hazards posed by the use of mercury in mining operations. The results showed that THg in urine, hair, and fingernails more efficiently distinguished mercury exposure in people close to mining and Hg pollution sources than in people living far from the mining sites. Further education on cleaner artisanal gold mining processes could help to minimize the impact of mercury use and exposure on human health and the environment.
Participant Consent. Obtained
Ethics Approval. This study was approved by the Ghana Environmental Protection Agency and the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development in Manso Nkwanta.
Competing Interests. The authors declare no competing financial interests. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T06:27:51Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-50bb043fb6204b0c920f0ebaf2828be6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2156-9614 2156-9614 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T06:27:51Z |
| publishDate | 2019-01-01 |
| publisher | Pure Earth |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Health and Pollution |
| spelling | doaj.art-50bb043fb6204b0c920f0ebaf2828be62022-12-21T19:13:04ZengPure EarthJournal of Health and Pollution2156-96142156-96142019-01-019211910.5696/2156-9614-9.21.1903062156-9614-9-21-190306Assessment of Total Mercury in Hair, Urine and Fingernails of Small–Scale Gold Miners in the Amansie West District, GhanaEdward Ebow Kwaansa-Ansah0Edward Kwaku Armah1Francis Opoku2Department of Chemistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, GhanaDepartment of Chemistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, GhanaDepartment of Chemistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, GhanaBackground. Mercury (Hg) is a heavy metal that can cause several adverse health effects based on its form (organic, inorganic or elemental), duration and pathway of exposure. Measurement of mercury present in human biological media is often used to assess human exposure to mercury at mining sites. Objectives. The aim of the present study was to measure the concentrations of total mercury in urine, hair, and fingernails of miners and inhabitants of Amansie West District, Ghana. Methods. Concentrations of total mercury were measured in sixty–eight miners and twelve non–miners in the study area using cold vapor atomic absorption spectrophotometry with an automatic mercury analyzer (HG 5000). Results. Total mercury in nails and hair of smelter miners was 3.32 ± 0.36 and 6.59 ± 0.01 μg/g, respectively. Total mercury concentrations in hair samples obtained from smelter miners were above the 1 μg/g guideline set by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). Moreover, the total mercury concentration in urine samples was 6.97 ± 0.06 μg/L, far below the >25 μg/L level considered to be a high level of mercury contamination. The total mercury accrued by the individuals was not dependent on age, but was positively associated with duration of stay. Conclusions. Based on the total mercury (THg) levels analyzed in the biological media, artisanal gold mining activities in Amansie West District are on the increase with a potential risk of developing chronic effects. However, the majority of the population, particularly those engaged in artisanal small–scale gold mining, are unmindful of the hazards posed by the use of mercury in mining operations. The results showed that THg in urine, hair, and fingernails more efficiently distinguished mercury exposure in people close to mining and Hg pollution sources than in people living far from the mining sites. Further education on cleaner artisanal gold mining processes could help to minimize the impact of mercury use and exposure on human health and the environment. Participant Consent. Obtained Ethics Approval. This study was approved by the Ghana Environmental Protection Agency and the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development in Manso Nkwanta. Competing Interests. The authors declare no competing financial interests.artisanal gold minershairtotal mercuryoccupational exposureurine |
| spellingShingle | Edward Ebow Kwaansa-Ansah Edward Kwaku Armah Francis Opoku Assessment of Total Mercury in Hair, Urine and Fingernails of Small–Scale Gold Miners in the Amansie West District, Ghana Journal of Health and Pollution artisanal gold miners hair total mercury occupational exposure urine |
| title | Assessment of Total Mercury in Hair, Urine and Fingernails of Small–Scale Gold Miners in the Amansie West District, Ghana |
| title_full | Assessment of Total Mercury in Hair, Urine and Fingernails of Small–Scale Gold Miners in the Amansie West District, Ghana |
| title_fullStr | Assessment of Total Mercury in Hair, Urine and Fingernails of Small–Scale Gold Miners in the Amansie West District, Ghana |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessment of Total Mercury in Hair, Urine and Fingernails of Small–Scale Gold Miners in the Amansie West District, Ghana |
| title_short | Assessment of Total Mercury in Hair, Urine and Fingernails of Small–Scale Gold Miners in the Amansie West District, Ghana |
| title_sort | assessment of total mercury in hair urine and fingernails of small scale gold miners in the amansie west district ghana |
| topic | artisanal gold miners hair total mercury occupational exposure urine |
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