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Health assessment of artisanal gold miners in Tanzania |
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| Authors: | Stephan Bose-O'Reilly Gustav Drasch Aloyce Tesha Gabriele Roider Don Appleton |
| Affiliation: | a Institute of Public Health, Medical Decision Making and Health Technology Assessment, UMIT - University for Health Sciences, Medical Informatics and Technology, Eduard Wallnoefer Center I, A-6060 Hall i.T., Austria b Institute of Forensic Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Nussbaumstr. 26, D-80636 Munich, Germany c Gethsemanestr.4, D-10437 Berlin, Germany d Ministry of Energy and Minerals and UNIDO, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania e British Geological Survey, Geochemistry, Minerals and Hydrology, Kingsley Dunham Centre, Keyworth, Nottingham, NG12 5GG, UK f Cardiovascular Research Program, Institute for Technology Assessment and Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA g Center for Health Decision Science, Department of Health Policy and Management, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA |
| Abstract: | In 2003 UNIDO (United Nations Industrial Development Organization) conducted an environmental and health assessment in a small-scale mining area in Tanzania. BGS (British Geological Survey) performed the environmental assessment. The Institute of Forensic Medicine - University of Munich performed the health assessment. The results of the medical, neurological and neuro-psychological examination of 180 participants from the affected area of Rwamagasa and 31 controls were analyzed. Urine, blood and hair samples were analyzed to detect the level of mercury body burden. Mercury concentrations in the bio-monitors urine, blood and hair were statistically significantly higher in the exposed population from Rwamagasa compared to the control group from Katoro. Only amalgam burners showed mercury levels above the toxicological threshold limits. A speciation of mercury in hair indicated that mainly elemental mercury vapor contributed to the high body burden of the artisanal miners. 104 amalgam-burners, the most exposed population group, were examined. 25 of these workers were found to be intoxicated. Small-scale mining is a serious health hazard for amalgam burners. Reduction of the exposure is essential to prevent further damage. |
| Keywords: | Mercury Neurotoxic Artisanal gold mining Tanzania Environment Health Amalgam smelting Mercury vapor |
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