Survey of knowledge and practice related health risks of mercury exposure among gold craft workers in Rappocini area, Makassar city

Abstract

Mercury (Hg) can cause acute and chronic intoxications in humans, such as damage to the central nervous system, lungs, and kidneys. Goldsmiths pose the risk of exposure to Hg through direct skin contact or inhalation of Hg vapor during the amalgam burning process. This study aims to assess the level of workers' knowledge regarding the risk of exposure to Hg and investigate the practice of preventing health risks from exposure to Hg in household-level gold-crafting activities. The study used a descriptive observational approach. The population of the study was 110 gold craftsmen in the Rapokkaling Village, Makassar City. The number of samples was 52 people determined by the purposive sampling technique. The data collection instruments included a structured questionnaire, camera, recorder, and field note. The results of the data analysis showed that the proportion of respondents with a sufficient level of knowledge was greater than that with a low level of knowledge (65.4% and 34.6%, respectively). On the other hand, the results of the observation showed that 100% of gold craft workers had unsecure work practices. Sufficient knowledge about the risks of exposure to Hg does not guarantee the discipline of implementing secure work practices including using personal protective equipment.