Protocols for Environmental and Health Assessment of Mercury Released by Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Miners

Artisanal and small-scale gold mining is a poverty-driven activity that provides an important source of livelihood for rural communities. It is frequently accompanied by extensive environmental degradation and deplorable socio-economic conditions. Metallic mercury, which is the main form of pollution released by small-scale mining, is capricious and difficult to work with. The main goals of the Global Mercury Project are to: reduce Hg pollution caused by artisanal miners on international waters; introduce cleaner technologies for gold extraction and teach miners how to use these technologies; develop capacity and regulatory mechanisms within local governments that will enable the sector to minimize Hg pollution; introduce environmental and health monitoring programs; and build capacity in local laboratories to assess the extent and impact of Hg pollution.