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Integrated Assessment of Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining in Ghana—Part 2: Natural Sciences Review

Author

Listed:
  • Mozhgon Rajaee

    (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, Tamale, Ghana)

  • Allyson Green

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

  • Rachel Long

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

  • Samuel J. Cobbina

    (Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources, University for Development Studies, Nyankpala, Ghana)

  • Vincent Nartey

    (Department of Chemistry, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana)

  • David Buck

    (Biodiversity Research Institute, Portland, ME 04103, USA)

  • Edward Antwi

    (Centre for Energy, Environment & Sustainable Development, Kumasi, Ghana)

  • Niladri Basu

    (Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
    Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 0G4, Canada)

Abstract

This paper 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 integrated assessment (IA) framework was utilized to analyze socio-economic, health, and environmental data, and co-develop evidence-based responses with stakeholders. This paper focuses on the causes, status, trends, and consequences of ecological issues related to ASGM activity in Ghana. It reviews dozens of studies and thousands of samples to document evidence of heavy metals contamination in ecological media across Ghana. Soil and water mercury concentrations were generally lower than guideline values, but sediment mercury concentrations surpassed guideline values in 64% of samples. Arsenic, cadmium, and lead exceeded guideline values in 67%, 17%, and 24% of water samples, respectively. Other water quality parameters near ASGM sites show impairment, with some samples exceeding guidelines for acidity, turbidity, and nitrates. Additional ASGM-related stressors on environmental quality and ecosystem services include deforestation, land degradation, biodiversity loss, legacy contamination, and potential linkages to climate change. Though more research is needed to further elucidate the long-term impacts of ASGM on the environment, the plausible consequences of ecological damages should guide policies and actions to address the unique challenges posed by ASGM.

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:12:y:2015:i:8:p:8971-9011:d:53520
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. 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.
    2. Mark L. Wilson & Elisha Renne & Carla Roncoli & Peter Agyei-Baffour & Emmanuel Yamoah Tenkorang, 2015. "Integrated Assessment of Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining in Ghana — Part 3: Social Sciences and Economics," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-24, July.
    3. Gavin Hilson & Mark Hirons & Godfried Okoh & Gavin Hilson, 2011. "Poverty And Livelihood Diversification: Exploring The Linkages Between Smallholder Farming And Artisanal Mining In Rural Ghana," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 23(8), pages 1100-1114, November.
    4. Hilson, Gavin, 2002. "Harvesting mineral riches: 1000 years of gold mining in Ghana," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 28(1-2), pages 13-26.
    5. Sonia M. Valdivia & Cassia M. L. Ugaya, 2011. "Life Cycle Inventories of Gold Artisanal and Small‐Scale Mining Activities in Peru," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 15(6), pages 922-936, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. 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.
    2. 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.
    3. 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.
    4. 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.
    5. 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.
    6. Satomi Kimijima & Masayuki Sakakibara & Masahiko Nagai & Nurfitri Abdul Gafur, 2021. "Time-Series Assessment of Camp-Type Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining Sectors with Large Influxes of Miners Using LANDSAT Imagery," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(18), pages 1-14, September.
    7. 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.
    8. Samuel J. Cobbina & Abudu B. Duwiejuah & Reginald Quansah & Samuel Obiri & Noel Bakobie, 2015. "Comparative Assessment of Heavy Metals in Drinking Water Sources in Two Small-Scale Mining Communities in Northern Ghana," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-15, August.
    9. 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.
    10. Niladri Basu & Elisha P. Renne & Rachel N. Long, 2015. "An Integrated Assessment Approach to Address Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining in Ghana," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-16, September.
    11. 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.
    12. Samuel Obiri & Precious A. D. Mattah & Memuna M. Mattah & Frederick A. Armah & Shiloh Osae & Sam Adu-kumi & Philip O. Yeboah, 2016. "Assessing the Environmental and Socio-Economic Impacts of Artisanal Gold Mining on the Livelihoods of Communities in the Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipality in Ghana," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-15, January.
    13. 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.
    14. Pyae Sone Soe & Win Thiri Kyaw & Koji Arizono & Yasuhiro Ishibashi & Tetsuro Agusa, 2022. "Mercury Pollution from Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining in Myanmar and Other Southeast Asian Countries," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(10), pages 1-21, May.
    15. 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.

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