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Integrated Assessment of Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining in Ghana—Part 1: Human Health Review

Author

Listed:
  • Niladri Basu

    (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)

  • Edith Clarke

    (Ghana Health Service, Accra, Ghana)

  • Allyson Green

    (Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA)

  • Benedict Calys-Tagoe

    (Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana)

  • Laurie Chan

    (Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada)

  • Mawuli Dzodzomenyo

    (Department of Biological, Environmental, and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Legon Boundary, Accra, Ghana)

  • Julius Fobil

    (Department of Biological, Environmental, and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Legon Boundary, Accra, Ghana)

  • Rachel N. Long

    (Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA)

  • Richard L. Neitzel

    (Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA)

  • Samuel Obiri

    (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research-Water Research Institute, Accra, Ghana)

  • Eric Odei

    (Ghana Health Service, Accra, Ghana)

  • Lauretta Ovadje

    (Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA)

  • Reginald Quansah

    (Department of Biological, Environmental, and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Legon Boundary, Accra, Ghana
    Noguchi Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon Boundary, Accra, Ghana)

  • Mozhgon Rajaee

    (Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA)

  • Mark L. Wilson

    (Department of Epidemiology, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA)

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.

Suggested Citation

  • 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 , 2015. "Integrated Assessment of Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining in Ghana—Part 1: Human Health Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-34, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:12:y:2015:i:5:p:5143-5176:d:49499
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Walle, Manfred. & Jennings, Norman., 2001. "Safety & health in small-scale surface mines : a handbook," ILO Working Papers 993662223402676, International Labour Organization.
    2. repec:ilo:ilowps:366222 is not listed on IDEAS
    3. Yakovleva, Natalia, 2007. "Perspectives on female participation in artisanal and small-scale mining: A case study of Birim North District of Ghana," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 32(1-2), pages 29-41.
    4. Hilson, Gavin, 2002. "Harvesting mineral riches: 1000 years of gold mining in Ghana," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 28(1-2), pages 13-26.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    Cited by:

    1. Faye Koenigsmark & Caren Weinhouse & Axel J. Berky & Ana Maria Morales & Ernesto J. Ortiz & Eric M. Pierce & William K. Pan & Heileen Hsu-Kim, 2021. "Efficacy of Hair Total Mercury Content as a Biomarker of Methylmercury Exposure to Communities in the Area of Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining in Madre de Dios, Peru," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(24), pages 1-16, December.
    2. Nurfitri Abdul Gafur & Masayuki Sakakibara & Satoru Komatsu & Sakae Sano & Koichiro Sera, 2022. "Environmental Survey of the Distribution and Metal Contents of Pteris vittata in Arsenic–Lead–Mercury-Contaminated Gold Mining Areas along the Bone River in Gorontalo Province, Indonesia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(1), pages 1-13, January.
    3. Hermínio Cossa & Rahel Scheidegger & Andrea Leuenberger & Priska Ammann & Khátia Munguambe & Jürg Utzinger & Eusébio Macete & Mirko S. Winkler, 2021. "Health Studies in the Context of Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining: A Scoping Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-24, February.
    4. Win Thiri Kyaw & Masayuki Sakakibara, 2022. "Transdisciplinary Communities of Practice to Resolve Health Problems in Southeast Asian Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining Communities," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-17, April.
    5. E. Kyeremateng-Amoah & Edith E. Clarke, 2015. "Injuries among Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Miners in Ghana," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-11, September.
    6. Mozhgon Rajaee & Samuel Obiri & Allyson Green & Rachel Long & Samuel J. Cobbina & Vincent Nartey & David Buck & Edward Antwi & Niladri Basu, 2015. "Integrated Assessment of Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining in Ghana—Part 2: Natural Sciences Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-41, July.
    7. Fernando Morante-Carballo & Néstor Montalván-Burbano & Maribel Aguilar-Aguilar & Paúl Carrión-Mero, 2022. "A Bibliometric Analysis of the Scientific Research on Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-29, July.
    8. Sri Manovita Pateda & Masayuki Sakakibara & Koichiro Sera, 2021. "Element Rich Area Associated with Human Health Disorders: A Geomedical Science Approach to Potentially Toxic Elements Contamination," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(22), pages 1-9, November.
    9. Adator, Stephanie Worlanyo & Wu, Qiaosheng & Lambongang, Munkaila & Otoo, Samuel Leumas & Bosah, Chukwunonso Philip & Nimako, Kwaku Ohene, 2023. "Farmers' perception of the impact of gold mining on shrinking agricultural land and their livelihood in the Asutifi-North District," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).
    10. Katrina N. Burns & Kan Sun & Julius N. Fobil & Richard L. Neitzel, 2016. "Heart Rate, Stress, and Occupational Noise Exposure among Electronic Waste Recycling Workers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-16, January.
    11. Katherine von Stackelberg & Pamela R.D. Williams & Ernesto Sánchez-Triana, 2021. "A Systematic Framework for Collecting Site-Specific Sampling and Survey Data to Support Analyses of Health Impacts from Land-Based Pollution in Low- and Middle-Income Countries," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-24, April.
    12. Dingani Moyo & Ronald Ncube & Fungai Kavenga & Lilian Chikwava & Tawanda Mapuranga & Nathan Chiboyiwa & Chipo Chimunhu & Frank Mudzingwa & Orippa Muzvidziwa & Petronella Ncube & Tariro Christwish Mand, 2022. "The Triple Burden of Tuberculosis, Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Silicosis among Artisanal and Small-Scale Miners in Zimbabwe," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-14, October.
    13. Benedict N. L. Calys-Tagoe & Lauretta Ovadje & Edith Clarke & Niladri Basu & Thomas Robins, 2015. "Injury Profiles Associated with Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining in Tarkwa, Ghana," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-16, July.
    14. Clifford Amoako & Kwasi Kwafo Adarkwa & Kofi Appiah Koranteng, 2023. "Survival now, sustainability later: the emerging artisanal mining and the dying agricultural livelihoods in the Akyem Abuakwa traditional area of Ghana," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 25(2), pages 1645-1666, February.
    15. Wireko-Gyebi, Rejoice Selorm & Asibey, Michael Osei & Baah-Ennumh, Theresa Yaaba, 2022. "Planning for the effective and sustainable management of Ghana’s artisanal small-scale gold mining industry," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    16. Satomi Kimijima & Masayuki Sakakibara & Masahiko Nagai, 2021. "Detection of Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining Activities and Their Transformation Using Earth Observation, Nighttime Light, and Precipitation Data," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(20), pages 1-12, October.
    17. Mozhgon Rajaee & Rachel N. Long & Elisha P. Renne & Niladri Basu, 2015. "Mercury Exposure Assessment and Spatial Distribution in A Ghanaian Small-Scale Gold Mining Community," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-28, September.
    18. Russell Dowling & Bret Ericson & Jack Caravanos & Patrick Grigsby & Yaw Amoyaw-Osei, 2015. "Spatial Associations Between Contaminated Land and Socio Demographics in Ghana," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-15, October.
    19. Lauren Wyatt & Ernesto J. Ortiz & Beth Feingold & Axel Berky & Sarah Diringer & Ana Maria Morales & Elvis Rojas Jurado & Heileen Hsu-Kim & William Pan, 2017. "Spatial, Temporal, and Dietary Variables Associated with Elevated Mercury Exposure in Peruvian Riverine Communities Upstream and Downstream of Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-23, December.

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