2013-01-30-世界卫生组织-Mercury_Exposure_and_Health_Impacts_among_Individuals_in_the_Artisanal_and_Small-Scale_Gold_Mining_ASGM_Community_7页_119kb

Mercury Exposure and Health Impacts in Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining (ASGM)

Background

The Minamata Convention on Mercury, adopted in 2013, is a legally binding international agreement addressing mercury use, particularly in artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM). ASGM contributes significantly to mercury emissions, accounting for about 37% globally, and poses serious health risks through air, water, and food chain contamination.

Mercury Use and Environmental Impact

Mercury is used in ASGM to extract gold by forming amalgams, but this method leads to high emissions and pollution. It releases mercury vapor that exceeds safe limits, affecting miners and nearby communities. Mercury contaminates soil and water, bioaccumulating in fish and causing methylmercury poisoning in the food chain.

Health Impacts from Mercury Exposure

Exposure to mercury and methylmercury causes adverse health effects, including neurological disorders such as mental retardation, seizures, and developmental delays in children, kidney dysfunction, and immune system issues. Studies from multiple continents show elevated mercury levels in biomarkers like hair and urine, linked to symptoms and diseases like Minamata disease.

Mitigation Strategies

The Minamata Convention includes provisions for national plans to reduce mercury use in ASGM, emphasizing public health strategies, education, and biomonitoring. Alternatives recommended by UNEP include discontinuing hazardous practices like open amalgam burning and adopting safer methods such as gravity separation or chemical leaching to minimize exposure and emissions.

Conclusion

Mercury exposure in ASGM communities is strongly associated with preventable health risks; eliminating or reducing mercury use through viable alternatives can mitigate these impacts, aligning with global efforts like the Minamata Convention to promote healthier environments.