Ecuador’s main gold mining activities, located in the Southern region, are characterized by large veins of ore that have been exploited since the colonial era. Mercury pollution generated during amalgamation and cyanidation in artisanal and small-scale gold mining processing centres is of concern to human health. The aim of this chapter is to assess the effects of mercury exposure on health in terms of toxic risk (Hazard Quotient-HI) in the El Pache (Portovelo district) mining community. This chapter presents data of atmospheric mercury concentrations from sampled areas around processing plants and when miners burn gold-mercury amalgams and zinc shavings after cyanidation. Sampled individuals were fromthe mining community living and working around processing centres, made up of administrative staff, miners, women and children, which are exposed to mercury by air inhalation. Samples were taken in 2007, 2008, 2011 and 2012 during winter and summer. The most important specific conditions considered for the calculation of risk were: concentration at the source, concentration at the point of exposure, targets identification, pathways and exposure modes, exposure time. Results show that the human health risk due to mercury exceeds the limits of acceptability (HQ 1).
HUMAN HEALTH RISKS DUE TO AIR MERCURY EXPOSURE PRODUCED BY ARTISANAL AND SMALL-SCALE GOLD MINING ACTIVITIES IN PORTOVELO, ECUADOR
FALLICO, Carmine
2017-01-01
Abstract
Ecuador’s main gold mining activities, located in the Southern region, are characterized by large veins of ore that have been exploited since the colonial era. Mercury pollution generated during amalgamation and cyanidation in artisanal and small-scale gold mining processing centres is of concern to human health. The aim of this chapter is to assess the effects of mercury exposure on health in terms of toxic risk (Hazard Quotient-HI) in the El Pache (Portovelo district) mining community. This chapter presents data of atmospheric mercury concentrations from sampled areas around processing plants and when miners burn gold-mercury amalgams and zinc shavings after cyanidation. Sampled individuals were fromthe mining community living and working around processing centres, made up of administrative staff, miners, women and children, which are exposed to mercury by air inhalation. Samples were taken in 2007, 2008, 2011 and 2012 during winter and summer. The most important specific conditions considered for the calculation of risk were: concentration at the source, concentration at the point of exposure, targets identification, pathways and exposure modes, exposure time. Results show that the human health risk due to mercury exceeds the limits of acceptability (HQ 1).I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
