Contaminación por mercurio de leche materna de madres lactantes de municipios de Antioquia con explotación minera de oro

Sustainability of the Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining in Northeast Antioquia-Colombia

The aim of this work is to explain the concepts of sustainability with respect to small artisanal gold mining. For this, a qualitative approach with a descriptive scope was used, for which the bibliographic review technique was conducted. In this sense, articles, theses, books and institutional documents, and any contribution related to the research topic were taken into consideration. Likewise, this documentation contributed to the delimiting aspects that allowed a contrast between the proposed definitions and small artisanal mining in the Northeast Antioquia region in Colombia. Based on the reviewed sources, different needs were recognized in artisanal small-scale gold mining in Northeast Antioquia that still need action. In conclusion, through the exposition of sustainability theories, three common factors were identified within the various positions that were raised—the environmental, economic, and sociocultural dimensions.

Neurodevelopment and exposure to neurotoxic metal(loid)s in environments polluted by mining, metal scrapping and smelters, and e-waste recycling in low and middle-income countries

This review covers a wide body of literature to gain an understanding of the impacts of informal activities related to metal extraction (primary mining and recycling) on early life exposure to neurotoxicants and on neurodevelopment. In primary mining, gold extraction with Hg amalgamation is the main environmental cause of Hg pollution in most artisanal small-scale gold mining (ASGM) activities around the world. Nevertheless, in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), Pb disrupted from gold-related ores, mining, and artisanal cookware production are an important neurotoxicant that seriously contaminates the affected population, with devastating effects on children. In e-waste recycling settings, the range of neurotoxic substances that contaminate mothers and children is wider than in primary mining environments. Thus, Hg and Pb are major pre- and postnatal neurotoxicants affecting children in the informal metal extraction activities and SSA countries show the highest record of human contamination and of neurotoxic effects on children. There are additional sources of neurotoxic contamination from mining and metal processing activities (cyanide tailing in South America and SSA) and/or co-exposure to Hg-containing products such as cosmetics (soaps and Hg-based skin lightning creams in Africa) and pediatric Thimerosal-containing vaccines (TCVs, that breaks down to ethyl-mercury) in current use in middle and low income countries. However, the action of these neurotoxicants (per se or in combination) on children needs more attention and research. Studies show a negative association between biomarkers of all environmental metal(loid)s (As, Cd, Hg, Mn, and Pb) studied and neurodevelopment in young children. Sadly, in many unregulated activities, child labor is widely employed, thus presenting an additional occupational exposure. Children living in polluted environments related to metal processing are disproportionately exposed to a wide range of co-occurring neurotoxic substances. The review showed compelling evidence from highly representative parts of the world (Africa, Asia, and Latin America) that the studied neurotoxic substances negatively affected areas of the brain associated with language, memory and executive function, as well as psychosocial behavior. Protecting the environment and children from unregulated and highly polluting metal extraction and processing are inextricably intertwined and deserve urgent attention.

Infants and mothers levels of mercury in breast milk, urine and hair, data from an artisanal and small-scale gold mining area in Kadoma / Zimbabwe

In Kadoma (Zimbabwe) gold is extracted from ore based on a simple technology using mercury. Women are exposed whilst living in an exposed area, or even more working directly with mercury. Breast fed infants are exposed via mercury contaminated milk and the general environmental mercury exposure. The aim of the study was to measure infants and mothers levels of mercury in urine and hair, as well as in breast milk. In 2006, an environmental epidemiological field study with 120 mother - child pairs was conducted. A non exposed control group (n = 42) was compared with a medium exposed group (n = 51) and a high exposed group (occupational exposure, n = 27). Urine and hair samples from mother and infants plus breast milk samples were analyzed for total mercury. 120 breast milk samples were analyzed, median (maximum) concentrations [μg Hg/l] were (i) control group < 0.50 (1.55), (ii) medium exposed group 1.10 (10.48), (iii) high exposed group 1.20 (24.80) (p < 0,001). Urine and hair results were distributed similarly for infants and mothers, with higher levels according to the exposure subgroup. All specimen results correlated very well with another, indicating there is a pathway between breast milk and infant's level of mercury. The daily uptake of mercury via breast milk was calculated. The reference dose of 0.3°[μg Hg/kg BW/d] was used to compare the burden of the infants. No infant from the control group, but 17.6% of the medium and 18.5% of the high exposed group were above the reference dose. Mercury in breast milk is generally higher in artisanal and small scale gold mining areas. Breast fed infants were burdened with toxic mercury via breast milk and via the general environment, both are important public health issues.

Mercury exposure and its effects on fertility and pregnancy outcome

Mercury (Hg), a highly toxic environmental pollutant, shows harmfulness which still represents a big concern for human health, including hazards to fertility and pregnancy outcome. Research has shown that Hg could induce impairments in the reproductive function, cellular deformation of the Leydig cells and the seminiferous tubules, and testicular degeneration as well as abnormal menstrual cycles. Some studies investigated spontaneous abortion and complicated fertility outcome due to occupational Hg exposure. Moreover, there is a relation between inhaled Hg vapour and reproductive outcome. This MiniReview evaluates the hypothesis that exposure to Hg may increase the risk of reduced fertility, spontaneous abortion and congenital deficits or abnormalities.