Abstract
Problem statement: The possible exposure of heavy elements to life as a result of artisanal gold mining activities can be of great concern because of its associated effect on health. Approach: Soil samples from the artisanal gold mining sites of Awwal and Bagega villages in Kebbi and Zamfara states of Nigeria were collected and analyzed for heavy and other elements by X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) technique. Ten of the element analyses are presented in this study, based on their toxicity levels. Results: Four of the ten elements (Pb, Si, Rb and Fe) showed relatively high concentrations. Two of these four elements presented, (Si and Pb) may pose latent and immediate hazards to health. Respiratory crystalline silica is the major element constituent of the ever-well-pronounced mining dusts of the two sites. Its form of occurrence portends irreversible health problem called silicosis and is well linked to cancer forming properties; both of which develop through latency periods. Pb at whatever concentration portends both immediate and long term hazards to women and children at the greatest risks of exposures. Conclusion: Based on the results presented, there exist a possibility of an immediate and long term health risks associated with the artisanal gold mining exercises in the two sites studied if the said uncoordinated and unprofessional activities of the miners are left unchecked.
Highlights
Mining of minerals such as gold is found to be one of the major routes of exposure of life to heavy metals and other elements whose toxicity have been documented throughout history
The heavy metals are hazardous to life and the mining exercise is environmentally damaging (WR, 1998)
The presence of these heavy metals and other elements excavated can reside in the environment for hundreds of years
Summary
Mining of minerals such as gold is found to be one of the major routes of exposure of life to heavy metals and other elements whose toxicity have been documented throughout history. The heavy metals are hazardous to life and the mining exercise is environmentally damaging (WR, 1998) The presence of these heavy metals and other elements excavated can reside in the environment for hundreds of years. The uncoordinated, uneducated and unprotected miners take in this dust laden with crystalline silica which is known to be a major soil forming component The inhalation of this crystalline silica has been reported to initially cause respiratory irritation and an inflammatory reaction in the lungs (Vallyathan et al, 1995). In the result of Hnizdo and Vallyathan (2003), they concluded that “chronic levels of silica dust that do not cause disabling silicosis may cause the development of chronic bronchitis, emphysema and/or small airways disease that can lead to airflow obstruction, even in the absence of radiological silicosis” (Oxman et al, 1993; Park et al, 2002; Hnizdo and Vallyathan, 2003; Balmes et al, 2003)
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