Integrated assessment of artisanal and small-scale gold mining in Ghana--part 1: human health review.

Niladri Basu, Edith Clarke, Allyson Green, Benedict Calys-Tagoe, Laurie Chan, Mawuli Dzodzomenyo, Julius Fobil, Rachel N Long, Richard L Neitzel, Samuel Obiri, Eric Odei, Lauretta Ovadje, Reginald Quansah, Mozhgon Rajaee, Mark L Wilson

Journal: International journal of environmental research and public health 2016;12(5):5143-76

PMID: 25985314

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Abstract

This report is one of three synthesis documents produced via an integrated assessment (IA) that aims to increase understanding of artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) in Ghana. Given the complexities surrounding ASGM, an IA framework was utilized to analyze economic, social, health, and environmental data, and co-develop evidence-based responses with pertinent stakeholders. The current analysis focuses on the health of ASGM miners and community members, and synthesizes extant data from the literature as well as co-authors' recent findings regarding the causes, status, trends, and consequences of ASGM in Ghana. The results provide evidence from across multiple Ghanaian ASGM sites that document relatively high exposures to mercury and other heavy metals, occupational injuries and noise exposure. The work also reviews limited data on psychosocial health, nutrition, cardiovascular and respiratory health, sexual health, and water and sanitation. Taken together, the findings provide a thorough overview of human health issues in Ghanaian ASGM communities. Though more research is needed to further elucidate the relationships between ASGM and health outcomes, the existing research on plausible health consequences of ASGM should guide policies and actions to better address the unique challenges of ASGM in Ghana and potentially elsewhere.

Address: Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University, CINE Building Macdonald Campus of McGill University, 21,111 Lakeshore Rd., Ste. Anne de Bellevue, QC H9X 3V9, Canada. [email protected].; Ghana Health Service, Accra, Ghana. [email protected].; Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA. [email protected].; Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana. [email protected].; Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada. [email protected].; Department of Biological, Environmental, and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Legon Boundary, Accra, Ghana. [email protected].; Department of Biological, Environmental, and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Legon Boundary, Accra, Ghana. [email protected].; Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA. [email protected].; Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA. [email protected].; Council for Scientific and Industrial Research-Water Research Institute, Accra, Ghana. [email protected].; Ghana Health Service, Accra, Ghana. [email protected].; Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA. [email protected].; Department of Biological, Environmental, and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Legon Boundary, Accra, Ghana. [email protected].; Noguchi Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon Boundary, Accra, Ghana. [email protected].; Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA. [email protected].; Department of Epidemiology, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA. [email protected].

DOI: 10.3390/ijerph120505143

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MeSH Terms: Ghana, Gold, Humans, Mercury, Mining, Occupational Diseases, Occupational Health, Public Health, Water Pollution, Chemical