Adverse Health Effects of Mercury Use on Illegal Gold Miners: A Study in Garasi, Eritrea

In recent years, an increase in the activities of illegal gold mining was seen in many provinces of Eritrea. One of such provinces is Garasi where this case study was done to determine its adverse effects on health of miners. This study was based on survey using questionnaire with personal interview of illegal miners at the site of their work. Using snowball sampling method, a total number of 50 miners were interviewed out of which two were females. The age of illegal miners was ranged from 11 to > 50 years with work experience of 5 to 8 years. Majority of the miners claimed that they use mercury in the process of amalgamation. Miners experienced many health complications i.e., cough, chest pain, weakness, stress, insomnia, excessive salivation etc. after exposure to mercury. For some miners it was found that the mercury exposure was as many as 20 times per year. Chronic exposure to mercury increases adverse effects to health, in this study two miners who had an experience of 12 years showed the associated symptoms of chronic exposure. Out of 50 illegal miners, 41 visited outreach health facility to seek relief from the symptoms in which 53.6 % reported that they did not get any relief from their symptoms. The most common diagnosis and treatment among the illegal miners was pneumonia. In conclusion the effects of this poisoning may increase with the coming years; this activity is relatively at its infancy stage, with an increase in the associated damage in human health, animal life and the environment. Health sectors need to launch awareness campaigns aimed at educating miners about the dangers of mercury to health. And to seek alternative methods before the damage to health and other environmental damage escalates.