{"id":107732,"date":"2024-01-09T15:52:55","date_gmt":"2024-01-09T15:52:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/?p=107732"},"modified":"2024-03-08T08:15:10","modified_gmt":"2024-03-08T08:15:10","slug":"linking-geochemistry-and-health-in-artisanal-and-small-scale-gold-mining-in-the-kakamega-vihiga-gold-belt-kenya","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/news\/linking-geochemistry-and-health-in-artisanal-and-small-scale-gold-mining-in-the-kakamega-vihiga-gold-belt-kenya\/","title":{"rendered":"Linking geochemistry and health in artisanal and small-scale gold mining in the Kakamega-Vihiga gold belt, Kenya\u00a0\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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My name is Maureene Auma Ondayo and I am a UKRI-funded PhD candidate at the University of Eldoret, Kenya, and BGS, with a background in environmental and public health. In this blog I will share my PhD research, investigating major and trace element exposure in the environment. This includes ores, soils, sediment and waters, locally grown staple food crops (maize, leafy vegetables, pulses and tubers), and human samples (hair, nails and urine). My research also incorporates risk factors of exposure to potentially harmful elements (PHEs) and associated health implications among artisanal and small-scale gold mining workers and local residents.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is artisanal and small-scale gold mining?  <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) is an informal mining sector that provides subsistence-level livelihoods for many rural communities across the world. In Kenya, ASGM occurs in Migori, Narok, Siaya, Vihiga, Kakamega, Nandi, Kisumu, Turkana, West Pokot, Marsabit, Homa Bay and Kericho counties. It is estimated that ASGM production yields around 5 metric tons per year (worth around \u00a3250 million), employing 250 000 workers with more than 1 million dependents. The main environmental and health risks associated with ASGM relate to poor conditions at mining camps and mining operations, which include the extensive misuse of mercury in the production process.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mining the gold <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Miners often rely on local knowledge when prospecting for gold after which agricultural land and pristine forests are cleared to make way for the mine. Ores are excavated and broken into smaller pieces using sledgehammers and mills, dispersing large volumes of contaminated dust across nearby environments and communities. Milled ore powder is then wetted and sluiced to extract the gold particles. Panning separates gold-associated sediment particles, then liquid mercury is added, which joins together with the gold to form an amalgam and separates it from the sediment. The amalgam is then burnt on open flames, vaporising the mercury and leaving behind the gold, whilst tailings and wastewater from ASGM are disposed of in nearby farms, residences, playgrounds and waterways. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

These activities expose the workers and local populations to extreme health and safety hazards, with injuries, diseases and premature deaths reported in ASGM areas.  <\/p>\n\n\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\"Gold<\/a>
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Information\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t

Gold mining activities (milled ore washing and sluicing) and community drinking water dow<\/span>n<\/span>slope of ASGM activities<\/span>. \u00a9<\/span><\/span>\u00a0Maureene <\/span>Auma<\/span> Ondayo.<\/span><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t

\"Expand<\/a><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Gold<\/a>
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Information\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t

Gold mining activities (milled ore washing and sluicing) and community drinking water dow<\/span>n<\/span>slope of ASGM activities<\/span>. \u00a9<\/span><\/span>\u00a0Maureene <\/span>Auma<\/span> Ondayo.<\/span><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t

\"Expand<\/a><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Gold<\/a>
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Information\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t

Gold mining activities (milled ore washing and sluicing) and community drinking water dow<\/span>n<\/span>slope of ASGM activities<\/span>. \u00a9<\/span><\/span>\u00a0Maureene <\/span>Auma<\/span> Ondayo.<\/span><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t

\"Expand<\/a><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\n\n

Hazards of ASGM <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Exposure to potentially toxic elements (PTEs), physical hazards, gaseous emissions, overexertion, physical injuries and poor ventilation inside the mines are the key hazards to human health in ASGM. This exposure results in a wide range of health disorders including:  <\/p>\n\n\n\n