Abstract
Khaidarkan, Batken Province, Kyrgyzstan is home to one of the world’s largest and last primary mercury mines. Doctors without Borders (MSF) and the Ministry of Health (MOH) of Kyrgyzstan have found that the Batken region has an elevated rate of non-communicable diseases (NCD) within the country. NCD can be caused by environmental pollution. A human health risk assessment was conducted to investigate heavy metal exposure. Using a hand-held X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometer for soil screening is faster and less expensive than reliance on bench-scale methods. To establish a site-specific mercury conversion factor between XRF and the local MOH lab’s Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS) with a Pyrolyzer attachment, soil samples were collected in Khaidarkan and surrounding villages. Samples were analyzed by XRF in three stages: in situ, ex situ-bulk, and ex situ-sieved. The ex situ-sieved samples were analyzed by AAS. Analysis results indicate that in situ readings can be used as a qualitative tool for screening, and a conversion factor of 1.7 was most appropriate for converting ex situ-bulk/ex situ-sieved and AAS results. This analysis enables the MOH laboratory and others to use XRF as a quick and cost-effective monitoring tool for Hg contamination in soil.
Highlights
One of the world’s largest and last mercury mines is located in Khaidarkan, Batken Province, Kyrgyzstan
This study develops a relationship between X-ray fluorescence spectrometer (XRF) and an Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS) with a Pyrolyzer attachment for Hg
No comparable research was found in the literature review to either affirm or contradict the results of this study, making this study one of the first to find a correlation between XRF and AAS for determining Hg in soil
Summary
One of the world’s largest and last mercury mines is located in Khaidarkan, Batken Province, Kyrgyzstan. Médecins sans Frontières (MSF, Doctors without Borders) and the Kyrgyz Ministry of Health (MOH) have found that the Batken Province has elevated levels of non-communicable diseases (NCD), confirming the findings of local physicians [1]. As part of the project, a goal is to provide the Kadamjay Rayon laboratory the ability to efficiently and cost-effectively screen areas for potentially harmful mercury concentrations. ASGM is an important source of income, in impoverished areas where other income sources are not available [2]. These communities face multiple social and health challenges, including higher rates of NCD [2]. This research aims to develop a rapid, cost-effective, and implemented methodology to identify harmful Hg concentrations in communities with limited resources
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