If you’re in the gold rush, you’re more likely to be prone to a number of health issues. Learn about common ones and how to prevent them. Here are the most common ones, their causes, and treatments. You’ll also get a list of preventive measures.
Symptoms
Chronic exposure to toxic substances, poor air quality, and noise pollution have been linked to adverse health effects among gold miners, both in industrial and artisanal mines. These health issues have led to major efforts to improve occupational and environmental safety. However, there are still numerous health risks in gold mines.
Causes
The OECD’s due diligence guidance on gold mining and refining has influenced refiners’ business practices and recommended that refineries be audited. Unfortunately, few African refineries have followed this advice. However, the new refineries are providing an important outlet for millions of people who dig for gold.
One of the reasons that workers in gold refineries are susceptible to disease is exposure to high levels of Hg vapor, which can cause serious lung damage. Some studies have shown that exposure to this gas can even be fatal, especially if it is inhaled too deeply.
Another risk associated with small-scale gold mining is occupational exposure to toxic metals. As miners amalgamate precious metals in their mining operations, these metals are discarded as waste, which poses a number of health risks, both for miners and the environment. For instance, studies have found elevated mercury levels in the fish that grow near mines. These high levels are especially dangerous for children. Furthermore, exposure to radioactive ores can increase the risk of cancer.
Treatments
Workers in gold refineries are exposed to high levels of mercury, which can have negative health effects. Workers are exposed to mercury during the extraction of gold, as well as during the amalgam purification, amalgam pressing, and distillation processes. This exposure has been linked to a number of health issues, including mercury poisoning. While these problems are not widespread, they have become a serious concern for some countries, particularly in the Far East and South America.
Health risks are a serious concern for workers at gold refineries. As the metal breaks down during processing, it produces a cyanide vapor that can be harmful to workers’ lungs. Exposure to this vapor can cause lung damage and even death. Over five thousand people have been affected by the coronavirus, which is responsible for the disease, which has caused the outbreak.
Prevention
The gold industry is crucial for socioeconomic development, but it is associated with significant water pollution. Despite these risks, very few systematic assessments of water-related environmental impacts have been conducted. To help ensure a sustainable and safe gold industry, we use a methodology called water footprint assessment. This approach combines life cycle assessment, Monte Carlo analysis, and uncertainty analysis to provide reliable results to guide water management decisions. The water footprint assessment identifies the most prevalent categories of pollutants: carcinogens, non-carcinogens, and freshwater ecotoxicity.
A recent study showed that African gold refineries were not complying with OECD guidelines. They were selling the metal at prices well above the market price. That was illegal and the gold was often contaminated by dust and other impurities. The new refineries provide an important outlet for millions of people who dig for gold.
There are a number of studies linking Hg exposure to autoimmune dysfunction in gold mining communities. These studies have shown that Hg vapors near amalgam burning sites can be high and almost always exceed the WHO limit of 1.0 mg/m3. The exposure levels of gold refiners and the surrounding communities are extremely high, with workers and the communities suffering from a range of symptoms.
While Human Rights Watch does not recommend a boycott of gold from Ghana, the organization encourages companies to implement human rights due diligence in their supply chains. It also encourages companies to establish strong human rights policies and conduct regular training and monitoring with their suppliers. Human Rights Watch recommends that they work with reputable companies that have complete chain-of-cust documentation.
Mercury is a common contaminant in gold mining. It is used in amalgam, which is a combination of gold and mercury. The practice accounts for 37 percent of global mercury emissions. As such, it is crucial to ensure that health-care workers are trained to protect the workers.