According to Dr Jackson Adiyiah Nyantakyi, the Ashanti Regional Director of the EPA, and a researcher “mercury has infiltrated large number of fishes in our water bodies”, adding that the situation  remains a serious public health hazard.

He called on everybody to support the government to curb the illegal mining practices before the unexpected happen.

Besides environmental implications, Dr Nyantakyi, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Sunyani, said mercury remained a poisonous chemical harmful to human health and existence.

He said the abnormal skin rashes, body discoloration, rough skin, and other body defects on babies could be traced to the signs of mercury absorption into the body system.

Dr Nyantakyi said research showed many water bodies had traces of mercury, which had contaminated or poisoned many fishes, and expressed the fear the situation would worsen if galamsey activities in the country were not brought under control.

“My fears are that many Ghanaians eat lot of kenkey and fishes and who might tell if the fish you are eating is contaminated and so it is imperative for everybody to contribute his or her quota towards fighting illegal mining in the country”, he explained.

In Ghana, Dr Nyantakyi said gold refiners either use Cyanidation (the use of cyanide) or Amalgamation (use of mercury), saying because the use of cyanide was illegal, the illegal miners mostly used mercury in large quantities to refine gold.

He said because their activities were illegal, the miners “use mercury anyhow and thereby pollute our environment and water bodies which is a serious public health concern that threatens human existence.”

He said the government alone could not shoulder the responsibility of fighting illegal mining, and called on everybody, especially those in mining communities, including assembly members, traditional authorities and youth groups and associations to remain watchful and help stem the menace.

Dr Nyantakyi said that as a poisonous chemical, mercury was easily absorbed into the human bloodstream through the skin, inhaled into the lungs and digestive system, absorbed by fishes, and micro-organisms and others.

He said the sources of mercury emission included volcanic activity, weathering of rocks, water body movement, forest fires, biological processes and intentional usage of the chemical.

“Mercury easily infiltrates water bodies, the sediment and fishes and that is why we must all contribute to the national fight against illegal mining”, Dr Nyantakyi stated.

The situation is worrying because research has established that mercury exposure has dire health consequences for illegal miners, residents of mining communities, and members of the public who consume fish contaminated by the metal.

A researcher at the School of Public Health at the University of Ghana, Professor Richmond Aryeetey, has consequently advised the government to put in tighter measures to regulate the inflow and use of mercury in the country.

Enforcement

Particularly, he said stricter enforcement measures must be implemented to curb the smuggling of mercury for illegal mining activities in the country.

Prof. Aryeetey stated this in a lecture delivered at the sixth Biennial Public Lecture organized by the College of Health Sciences of the University of Ghana in Accra on September 27.

The lecture was on the theme: “Environmental and health impact of galamsey: the real cost of that gold,” and it formed part of activities marking the 75th-anniversary celebration of the University of Ghana.

The two speakers at the event explored the link between galamsey and non-communicable diseases, as well as the galamsey menace in Ghana and its effects on infectious diseases.

Present at the event were the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo; the Provost of the College of Health Sciences, Prof. Julius Najah Fobil, members of the academic community, researchers, health professionals and a section of the public.

Fish and mercury

Prof. Aryeetey said apart from water pollution, the use of mercury for illegal mining poisoned fish and made them unsafe for consumption.

He cautioned people who had an insatiable taste for big fishes to reconsider switching to smaller ones to reduce the risks associated with mercury exposure.

“When fish consumes mercury, it gets eaten by other big fish and even bigger fishes.

So if you are in the habit of eating big fish, be aware that they accumulate a lot of mercury.

For pregnant women, I will say eat fish because the benefit of fish far outweighs the effect that mercury could have but eat smaller fish,” he stressed.

Dangers

Prof. Aryeetey said despite the health implications of mercury and other chemicals, miners were unaware of it and continue to use it irresponsibly.

He said miners do not use Personal Protection Equipment (PPEs) when working with mercury and that exposes them to severe health risks.

“Miners use mercury without using retorts to prevent it from going out into the air. Mercury is released into the soil and river sediments at high levels, and this poses a danger to human beings and the environment,” he said.

For instance, he said studies had shown that miners had a high content of mercury in their urine beyond the normal threshold.

A Public Health Physician at the Infectious Disease Unit of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH), Dr Anita Ago Asare, observed that while discussions on illegal mining were often centered on environmental impact, it was critical to pay more attention to the health consequences the menace posed to mining communities in particular.

For instance, she said uncovered mining pits contained stagnant water which was a fertile breeding ground for mosquitoes.

She said such a condition increased the risk of transmission of diseases such as malaria, dengue, yellow fever, and elephantiasis.

Dr Asare stressed the need for regulatory agencies, especially the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Minerals Commission to strictly enforce laws and regulations that would ensure responsible mining and promote the safety of miners.

ALSO READ:

• 2024 World University Rankings: UCC remains best university in Ghana, 1st in West Africa

• ECG staff allegedly beat medical doctor to pulp

• They wanted to kill me and blame Bullet – Wendy gives more details on fatal accident [Video]