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Elwaleed A, Jeong H, Abdelbagi AH, Quynh NT, Agusa T, Ishibashi Y, Arizono K. Human Health Risk Assessment from Mercury-Contaminated Soil and Water in Abu Hamad Mining Market, Sudan. Toxics 2024; 12:112. [PMID: 38393207 PMCID: PMC10892728 DOI: 10.3390/toxics12020112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2023] [Revised: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
Artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) poses a significant global threat due to mercury emissions and resulting health hazards. This study focuses on assessing these risks in the Abu Hamad ASGM community in Sudan. Utilizing the Mercury Analyzer 3000 (NIC), analyses of twelve soil samples (including one tailings sample) and seven water samples revealed the highest concentrations near amalgam burning locations: 34.8 mg/kg in soil (S06) and 3.26 µg/L in water (W03). Concentrations decrease with distance, with soil near burning exceeding tailings (S05 = 19.0 mg/kg). Hazard quotients indicate mercury vapor inhalation as the primary exposure route from soil, with the Hazard Index reaching 5.34 for adults and 33.4 for children close to amalgam burning sites. Water samples generally pose little risk except for W03, where children face potential danger via ingestion (HI = 1.74). These findings emphasize the urgent need for adopting retorts and eco-friendly practices to reduce mercury emissions and protect ASGM communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed Elwaleed
- Graduate School of Environmental and Symbiotic Sciences, Prefectural University of Kumamoto, Tsukide 3-1-100, Higashi-ku, Kumamoto 862-8502, Japan; (A.E.)
- Mining Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, University of Khartoum, Gamma Ave., Khartoum P.O. Box 321, Sudan;
| | - HuiHo Jeong
- Faculty of Environmental and Symbiotic Sciences, Prefectural University of Kumamoto, Tsukide 3-1-100, Higashi-ku, Kumamoto 862-8502, Japan; (H.J.); (Y.I.)
| | - Ali H. Abdelbagi
- Mining Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, University of Khartoum, Gamma Ave., Khartoum P.O. Box 321, Sudan;
| | - Nguyen Thi Quynh
- Graduate School of Environmental and Symbiotic Sciences, Prefectural University of Kumamoto, Tsukide 3-1-100, Higashi-ku, Kumamoto 862-8502, Japan; (A.E.)
| | - Tetsuro Agusa
- Faculty of Environmental and Symbiotic Sciences, Prefectural University of Kumamoto, Tsukide 3-1-100, Higashi-ku, Kumamoto 862-8502, Japan; (H.J.); (Y.I.)
| | - Yasuhiro Ishibashi
- Faculty of Environmental and Symbiotic Sciences, Prefectural University of Kumamoto, Tsukide 3-1-100, Higashi-ku, Kumamoto 862-8502, Japan; (H.J.); (Y.I.)
| | - Koji Arizono
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kumamoto University, 5-1 Oe-honmachi, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto 862-0973, Japan
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