Mercury exposure and health impacts among individuals in the artisanal and small-scale gold mining community: a comprehensive review.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Mercury (Hg) is used in gold mining to extract gold from ore by forming "amalgam"-a mixture composed of approximately equal parts mercury and gold. Approximately 15 million people, including approximately 3 million women and children, participate in artisanal small-scale gold mining (ASGM) in developing countries. Thirty-seven percent of global air emissions of Hg are produced by ASGM. The recently adopted Minamata Convention calls for nations to gather health data, train health-care workers, and raise awareness in regard to ASGM activity.

Objective

The purpose of our review was to evaluate the current literature regarding the health effects of Hg among those working and/or living in or near ASGM communities.

Methods

We searched PubMed, ScienceDirect, and G

SUBMITTER: Gibb H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4080518 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature