The use of mercury in mining communities causes permanent brain damage, seizures, vision and hearing impairments, still birth, deformity among babies and delayed childhood development, the Savannah Regional Director of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Mr Loury Jimah, has cautioned.
He has, therefore, urged small-scale miners to stop applying methods that involve the use of mercury and adopt modern techniques to protect human lives and preserve the environment.
Mr Jimah, who made the call at a workshop organised by the EPA under the Africa Environmental Health and Pollution Management (AEHPM) programme on Tuesday in Bole, reminded the public that mercury contaminated water bodies, and caused kidney malfunctioning and stunted growth.
The event brought together representatives from mining communities in the Bole District, mineral commission, water company,chiefs, small scale miners, Ghana health services among others and the EPA.
Mr Jimah said the AEHPM programme was aimed at reducing exposure to mercury and unintentional Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) through mining for better environmental, human, and animal health outcomes.
“Millions of miners, infants, children, women of child bearing age and breast-feeding women who work or live in Artisanal Small- Scale Gold Mining (ASGM) communities are at the risk of mercury exposure,” he said.
Mr Jimah said that mercury did not only impact those who use it, but other members of society, and if not checked would lead to high mercury-related health problems in mining communities.
He noted that the country had instituted a number of interventions, including the ratification of international conventions and management laws, to deal with e-waste and the chemical pollution menace.
However, Mr Jimah said there were still gaps in expected outcomes and efforts to reduce the impact of e-waste and mercury use in artisanal and small-scale mining activities on human health and the environment.
Justine Seyire Dzadzra ,Ag. Director/ Mining and Technical Officer AEHPMP , said the uncontrolled use and exposure to mercury in artisanal and small-scale mining communities remained a worry to the government and the international community.
“Exposure to mercury and other hazardous chemical pollutants is not only a national threat but a regional and global menace,” she said.
Mercury, a highly toxic substance, poses a grave threat to human health and the environment, particularly in artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) activities, she noted.
In Ghana, ASGM operations have long relied on mercury for the amalgamation of gold, leading to widespread contamination of land and water resources.
Source: yagbonradioonline
