Artisanal and small-scale gold mining: A cross-sectional assessment of occupational mercury exposure and exposure risk factors in Kadoma and Shurugwi, Zimbabwe

Viola Mambrey; Stefan Rakete; Myriam Tobollik; Dennis Shoko; Dingani Moyo; Paul Schutzmeier; Nadine Steckling-Muschack; Shamiso Muteti-Fana; Stephan Bose-O'Reilly

doi:10.1016/j.envres.2020.109379

Artisanal and small-scale gold mining: A cross-sectional assessment of occupational mercury exposure and exposure risk factors in Kadoma and Shurugwi, Zimbabwe

Environ Res. 2020 May:184:109379. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.109379. Epub 2020 Mar 11.

Authors

Viola Mambrey¹, Stefan Rakete², Myriam Tobollik³, Dennis Shoko⁴, Dingani Moyo⁵, Paul Schutzmeier⁶, Nadine Steckling-Muschack⁷, Shamiso Muteti-Fana⁸, Stephan Bose-O'Reilly⁹

Affiliations

¹ Institute for Medical Information Processing, Biometry and Epidemiology - IBE, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany; Pettenkofer School of Public Health, Munich, Germany; Institute and Clinic for Occupational, Social- and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Ziemssenstr. 1, D-80336, Munich, Germany. Electronic address: viola.mambrey@med.uni-muenchen.de.
² Institute and Clinic for Occupational, Social- and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Ziemssenstr. 1, D-80336, Munich, Germany. Electronic address: Stefan.Rakete@med.uni-muenchen.de.
³ Department Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany; Section Exposure Assessment and Health Indicators, German Environment Agency, Berlin, Germany. Electronic address: myriam.tobollik@uba.de.
⁴ Tailjet Consultancy Services, Harare, Zimbabwe. Electronic address: dennis.shoko@gmail.com.
⁵ University of the Witwatersrand, School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Occupational Health Division, Johannesburg, South Africa; Midlands State University, Faculty of Medicine & Faculty of Social Sciences, Gweru, Zimbabwe. Electronic address: moyod@iwayafrica.co.zw.
⁶ Institute and Clinic for Occupational, Social- and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Ziemssenstr. 1, D-80336, Munich, Germany. Electronic address: paul.schutzmeier@med.uni-muenchen.de.
⁷ Institute and Clinic for Occupational, Social- and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Ziemssenstr. 1, D-80336, Munich, Germany; Institute of Public Health, Medical Decision Making and Health Technology Assessment, Department of Public Health, Health Services Research and Health Technology Assessment, UMITPrivate University for Health Sciences, Medical Informatics and Technology, Hall I.T, Austria. Electronic address: nadine.steckling-muschack@med.uni-muenchen.de.
⁸ Department of Community Medicine, UZ College of Health Sciences, Harare, Zimbabwe. Electronic address: smuteti@gmail.com.
⁹ Institute and Clinic for Occupational, Social- and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Ziemssenstr. 1, D-80336, Munich, Germany; Institute of Public Health, Medical Decision Making and Health Technology Assessment, Department of Public Health, Health Services Research and Health Technology Assessment, UMITPrivate University for Health Sciences, Medical Informatics and Technology, Hall I.T, Austria; University Children's Hospital Regensburg (KUNO-Clinics), University of Regensburg, Clinic St. Hedwig, Regensburg, Germany. Electronic address: stephan.boeseoreilly@med.uni-muenchen.de.

PMID: 32197122
DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.109379

Abstract

In artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) the toxic metal mercury is used for gold extraction. The objective of this cross-sectional study was to assess mercury concentrations in urine and blood and mercury-related symptoms of participants identifying themselves as miners from Kadoma and Shurugwi, Zimbabwe. Moreover, we aimed to explore possible risk factors influencing mercury body burden. In 2019, urine and blood samples of 207 participants were collected and analyzed for mercury using atomic absorption spectroscopy. All participants answered questions regarding their exposure risks. The median urine mercury value was 4.75 μg/L with a maximum of 612 μg/L. Median mercury concentration in creatinine corrected urine values was 3.98 μg/g with a maximum value of 478 μg/g. The median blood mercury value was 2.70 μg/L with a maximum of 167 μg/L. Correlations between exposure risks factors such as the lack of retort use and elevated mercury values were demonstrated. ASGM is very common in Zimbabwe. Thus, mercury exposure is a major occupational health risk for miners. Moreover, this study emphasizes the impact of exposure risk factors on the mercury body burden.

Keywords: Artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM); Exposure risk factors; Human biomonitoring; Mercury; Zimbabwe.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Cross-Sectional Studies
Environmental Monitoring
Gold
Humans
Mercury* / analysis
Mercury* / toxicity
Mining
Occupational Exposure* / analysis
Risk Factors
Zimbabwe / epidemiology

Substances

Gold
Mercury