Health risks of gold miners: a synoptic review

Health problems of gold miners who worked underground include decreased life expectancy; increased frequency of cancer of the trachea, bronchus, lung, stomach, and liver; increased frequency of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB), silicosis, and pleural diseases; increased frequency of insect-borne diseases, such as malaria and dengue fever; noise-induced hearing loss; increased prevalence of certain bacterial and viral diseases; and diseases of the blood, skin, and musculoskeletal system. These problems are briefly documented in gold miners from Australia, North America, South America, and Africa. In general, HIV infection or excessive alcohol and tobacco consumption tended to exacerbate existing health problems. Miners who used elemental mercury to amalgamate and extract gold were heavily contaminated with mercury. Among individuals exposed occupationally, concentrations of mercury in their air, fish diet, hair, urine, blood, and other tissues significantly exceeded all criteria proposed by various national and international regulatory agencies for protection of human health. However, large-scale epidemiological evidence of severe mercury-associated health problems in this cohort was not demonstrable.     

Seasonal distribution and speciation of mercury in a gold mining area,north-west province,South Africa

The seasonal speciation of mercury (Hg) was determined in water, soil, and sediments from watersheds located in the North-West province of South Africa. The study area is known to have a long history of mining activities which also include the recovery of gold from old tailings. Both inorganic (IHg) and methyl mercury (MHg) were detected at high concentrations (up to 8480 μg IHg kg^?1 and 13 μg MHg kg^?1) in surface sediments during dry season. A considerable remobilization of Hg from bottom sediments was observed in water from dry to wet season as well as the migration of Hg away from pollution sources due to seasonal influences. Hg in sediments mostly has been speciated as Hg⁰. Enhancement of Hg methylation occurred mainly in deeper sediments at regions corresponding to the lowest redox potential, higher pH, and enrichment of IHg. Hg values in borehole waters were very high (up to 3310 ng L^?1) suggesting a serious contamination of the site groundwater which needs to be addressed urgently in order to minimize further impact that affects the Vaal River and other water systems located nearby.     

贵州万山汞矿区植物中汞的累积特征

本研究对采集自贵州万山废弃汞冶炼作坊与废弃汞矿附近的土壤和植物样品进行总汞分析,旨在探究不同种类植物和植物组织中汞的蓄积能力和分布特征。本研究共采集菊科、禾本科和唇形科等植物77种,植物茎叶部分和根部样品共185个。结果表明,废弃汞冶炼作坊与废弃汞矿周围土壤汞浓度（1.8–224 mg·kg⁻¹）显著高于贵阳市对照点（0.14–0.26 mg·kg⁻¹）;万山汞矿区采集的植物茎叶部分和根部总汞浓度范围分别为0.07–7.9 mg·kg⁻¹和0.06–28 mg·kg⁻¹,显著高于对照点的同种植物茎叶部分和根部样品中总汞浓度（P < 0.001）。另外,草本植物和木本植物,以及菊科、禾本科和唇形科植物对汞的累积水平无明显差异（P > 0.05）。通过对同株植物的不同组织进行分析,发现植物茎叶部分和根部累积汞的能力存在差异,二者总汞浓度水平显著相关（R ≥ 0.58,P < 0.001）,推测其与不同组织中汞的来源不同及植物体内汞转运有关。这些结果表明废弃汞冶炼作坊和废弃汞矿对周边植物的汞累积能力有显著影响,需重视废弃汞矿区的潜在生态风险。     

Neurological and neuropsychological deterioration in artisanal gold miners from the town of Andacollo,Chile

It is widely known that human exposure to mercury vapor can cause neurological and neuropsychological deterioration. We have investigated if a population of Chilean artisanal gold-mining workers heavily exposed to elemental mercury (Hg⁰) display neurological and neuropsychological impairment. Male volunteers occupationally exposed to Hg⁰ (“gold miners”, n = 35) were recruited and compared with a group of unexposed workers (n = 40). Blood specimens were obtained from both groups for total mercury quantification. Upon neurological examination, 71% of the “gold miners” group showed abnormalities expressed as frontal impairment, tremor, or simultaneously frontal impairment, parkinsonism, and pyramidal syndrome. In contrast, only 16% of the individuals in the control group displayed neurological abnormalities. The “gold miners” group also showed impairment of the neuropsychological performance and the distribution of abnormal scores for almost all the neuropsychological tests applied was significantly higher in this group compared to the control group. Educational level, alcohol intake, and smoking habits did not influence the outcome of the neurological or neuropsychological examinations. Finally, despite that the higher blood mercury concentrations were found in the “gold miners” group, they were not significantly different from the values obtained in the control group.     

Assessment by Hair analysis of Mercury Exposure Among Mining Impacted Communities of Mindanao and Palawan, The Philippines

Human mercury (Hg) exposure in two contrasting areas of mining and mineral processing activity on the Philippine islands of Mindanao and Palawan was evaluated using hair analysis. On Mindanao, samples were collected from residents of Apokon, a major regional centre for gold beneficiation. On Palawan, a former cinnabar mine and mine-waste disposal site in Honda Bay formed the focus of investigation. Relatively high hair Hg burdens (up to 13mg Hg kg^–1 at Apokon and 18.5mg Hg kg^–1 in Honda Bay) were observed in both populations, with occupational factors apparently constituting a first-order exposure control. At Apokon, hair burdens in excess 2mg Hg kg^–1 were recorded in 90% of Au processing plant workers, compared with 21% of other sectors of the population. In Bay, ex-mineworkers, although possibly subject to occupational Hg exposure in the past, now display no evidence of this influence. Fishermen, however, systematically yielded hair Hg concentrations a factor of 2.5 higher than those of the remaining population. Approximately 7% of the Apokon and Honda Bay residents sampled presented hair Hg concentrations equal to or in excess of the World Health Organisation (WHO) reference dose. There is little evidence to indicate that residential factors significantly influence Hg exposure in either area. Hazard mitigation strategies involving the isolation of resident populations from perceived contaminant sources such as ore processing plant and sites of mine-waste disposal are, therefore, unlikely to prove beneficial.     

Removal of Mercury from Polluted Waters by the Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes)

The uptake of mercury by water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) was studied in an outdoor experiment for 25 days at different metal concentrations. the removal of mercury from the water and uptake by plants was very effective during the first hours and decreased rapidly thereafter. the uptake of mercury was directly proportional to the initial concentration in the water. the highest concentrations were found in plant roots. According to the results, water hyacinth could be used for treatment of mercurial waste waters.     

Removal of Mercury from Polluted Waters by the Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes)

The uptake of mercury by water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) was studied in an outdoor experiment for 25 days at different metal concentrations. the removal of mercury from the water and uptake by plants was very effective during the first hours and decreased rapidly thereafter. the uptake of mercury was directly proportional to the initial concentration in the water. the highest concentrations were found in plant roots. According to the results, water hyacinth could be used for treatment of mercurial waste waters.     

物种敏感度分布的非参数核密度估计模型

针对目前物种敏感度分布参数方法建模所存在的缺点,首次提出基于非参数核密度估计方法的物种敏感度分布模型,并提出相应的最优窗宽和检验方法。选用无机汞作为案例研究对象,利用非参数核密度估计方法和3种传统参数模型分别推导了保护我国水生生物的无机汞的急性水质基准值。结果表明,非参数核密度估计方法在推导无机汞水质基准中的稳健性和精确度都大大优于传统参数模型,能够更好地构建物种敏感度分布曲线。该方法的提出丰富了水质基准的理论方法学,为更好地保护水生生物提供了有力的支撑。     

贵州省务川汞矿区汞污染的初步研究

对贵州省务川汞矿区的大气、地表水和土壤中汞污染的调查表明,务川汞矿区大气汞浓度为7—40000 ng·m-3,超出正常大气汞浓度1—4个数量级.地表水总汞为43—2100 ng·l-1,远高于对照区(15—29 ng·l-1);活性汞、溶解态汞和颗粒态汞含量也显著高于对照区,颗粒态汞是地表水汞迁移的主要方式.土壤总汞含量为1.3—360 mg·kg-1,远高于对照区土壤总汞含量(0.22—0.39 mg·kg-1),土壤剖面汞含量的垂向递减反映了大气汞的沉降是土壤汞的重要来源之一;同一地点不同土地利用类型的土壤,一般为稻田总汞含量高于菜地和玉米地;土壤pH值和有机质影响着土壤中汞的迁移和富集.     

金纳米粒子修饰丝网印刷电极测定化妆品中的汞含量

采用丝网印刷电极,通过电化学沉积法修饰纳米金颗粒,对化妆品中重金属Hg2+进行快速测定.实验结果表明,Hg2+在金纳米粒子修饰电极上可得到灵敏的溶出峰,在优化的实验条件下Hg2+在5-160 μg·L-1范围内呈现良好的线性关系,相关系数为0.992,检测限为0.3 μg·L-1.该方法简便、快速、灵敏度较高、具有较好的选择性和准确性,能满足化妆品中Hg2+含量的检测分析.     

新型混凝剂聚硅硫酸铝的研究

以硫酸铝、水玻璃、铝酸钠为主要原料制备的新型混凝剂聚硅硫酸铝，其产品的Ａｌ２Ｏ３含量约８％，盐基度４０％￣６０％，对制备的ＰＡＳＳ溶液经５个月的贮存，其性质稳定，ＰＡＳＳ在去浊试验中，无论常温和低温均低优于硫酸铝。对三种工业废水进行混凝处理，取得令人满意的ＣＯＤｃｒ去除率。     

南京市郊区雾天大气污染及雾水中Hg的特征

根据南京市郊区雾的外场实验观测资料及采集的雾水样品分析,探讨南京市郊区雾水中Hg和雾天大气污染特征.郊区出现雾天时,不利于大气污染物的扩散,造成PM10,CO和总烃浓度先增加后降低,污染物浓度的变化与雾的生消基本同步;雾消散后SO2,PM10和NOx的浓度比雾前高2.5—10倍.雾水中汞浓度在2.956—7.205μg·l-1范围内,平均为5.471μg·l-1,浓度高值出现在雾的维持阶段;对Hg与大气污染物之间的关系作相关分析,其中汞与大气中CO的相关系数为0.939,说明其具有同源性.     

水/气界面间汞交换通量的研究进展展

本文综述了近年来国内外大量文献,对有关水体和大气中汞的存在形态、特性及水/气间汞交换通量的影响因素进行了总结,描述了目前国内外相关领域的研究现状,并对该领域下一步的研究方向进行了探讨.     

垃圾填埋场及周边水系中汞污染调查

对上海老港垃圾填埋场渗滤液、地下水和地表径流水监测分析表明：渗滤液中的汞主要为以颗粒态汞(S-Hg)形式存在,污水处理系统可以使颗粒态汞(S-Hg)随颗粒物沉积到底泥中,但是对可溶态汞(D-Hg)去除没有明显作用;芦苇湿地可以有效地吸附和吸收渗滤液中各种形态汞,使汞浓度降到一个较低的水平;对地下水和地表水的分析结果显示,地下水基本没有受到汞污染,而地表水受到一定程度的污染。     

东平湖菹草-上覆水-沉积物系统中汞、砷的赋存特征

为了解东平湖菹草-上覆水-沉积物系统中重金属汞（Hg）和砷（As）的含量特征及相互关系,于2015年5月菹草生长的旺盛期在东平湖沿湖采集了33个点位的菹草、上覆水和表层沉积物样品,测定了Hg和As的总量,并采用生物富集系数法评价了菹草对上覆水和表层沉积物中Hg和As的富集能力.结果表明,东平湖上覆水中Hg和As浓度的均值分别为0.769 μg·L-1和7.86 μg·L-1,以地表水环境质量Ⅲ类水标准（GB 3838-2002）为参比,As全部达标;Hg超标率为73.3%,其均值是Ⅲ类水标准值的7.7倍.表层沉积物中Hg和As的含量均值分别为0.072 mg·kg-1和17.09 mg·kg-1,分别为山东省土壤背景值的3.6倍和1.8倍.菹草中Hg和As的含量均值分别为0.169（干重）和2.11 mg·kg-1（干重）.菹草对上覆水、表层沉积物中Hg、As的富集系数空间差异性较大,且对上覆水中Hg和As的富集系数（16.2-2581.9）远高于对表层沉积物中的富集系数（0.07-26.2）.表层沉积物中Hg、As与有机质之间均呈显著正相关性,但Hg、As在菹草-上覆水-沉积物系统中相关性不显著,说明了该系统中Hg、As迁移的复杂性.     

基于反相色谱原理HPLC-ICP-MS法同时分离测定环境水中的6种形态砷和3种形态汞

本文建立了使用HPLC-ICPMS联用同时分离测定环境水中的亚砷酸[As(Ⅲ)]、砷酸[As(Ⅴ)]、一甲基砷酸（MMA）、二甲基砷酸（DMA）、砷甜菜碱（AsB）、砷胆碱(AsC)和无机汞（iHg）、甲基汞（MeHg）、乙基汞（EtHg）的方法。该方法结果显示,6种形态砷和3种形态汞的线性相关系数大于0.999,加标回收率在85.8%—97.5%之间,重现性<5.38%,6种形态砷的检出限在0.05—0.10 μg·L⁻¹之间,3种形态汞的检出限在0.04—0.07 μg·L⁻¹,方法适用于环境水中6种形态砷和3种形态汞的同时定量分析。     

华北平原某区农村供水水质与健康风险评估

在饮用水水质的评价中,国标法和综合水质指数（WQI）均以《生活饮用水卫生标准》（GB5749-2006）为评价依据,能够定性、定量反映供水水质的评价方法。健康风险评估则把污染物负荷与人类健康相关联,进而评估饮用水中的污染物对人类健康的潜在危害。通过上述3种方法对华北某区农村饮用水水质进行评估,可从不同维度评估水质供水水质情况,并对水质评估方法提出可行的改进建议。对比国标法和WQI,健康风险评估不受国标限值影响,指出了限制之下指标的潜在健康风险。WQI与健康风险评估两者共同运用于饮用水水质评估,可定量、全面以及客观的展示水质优劣,明确主要污染物,并可以根据污染贡献程度明确亟待解决的供水水质问题,可在我国饮用水水质与健康风险量化评估中推广使用。     

夹皮沟金矿区土壤汞的赋存形态及污染特征

使用改进的BCR连续提取法和电感耦合等离子质谱(ICP-MS),测定夹皮沟金矿区土壤样品中汞元素的赋存形态及含量。结果表明,三个深度的土壤汞元素形态分布趋势相似,均以残渣态为主,其次为可氧化态和可还原态,酸溶/可交换态和水溶态所占比例较少,各形态汞的分配系数依次为:残渣态(48.28%)可氧化态(25.68%)可还原态(13.35%)酸溶/可交换态(8.38%)水溶态(4.33%)。垂直方向上,20~40 cm的中层土壤中的汞含量略高于0~20 cm的表层土壤,40~60 cm的下层土壤则含量最低。不同深度土壤中的有效态汞与总汞的含量具有较高的相关性,但三层土壤不具有相同的相关趋势。