Journal Article > ResearchAbstract
Occup Environ Med. 5 September 2019; Volume 76; DOI:10.1136/oemed-2019-105830
Gottesfeld P, Meltzer G, Costello S, Greig J, Thurtle N, et al.
Occup Environ Med. 5 September 2019; Volume 76; DOI:10.1136/oemed-2019-105830
Objectives Our objective was to monitor blood lead levels (BLLs) of miners and ore processors participating in a pilot programme to reduce lead poisoning and take-home exposures from artisanal small-scale gold mining. A medical surveillance programme was established to assess exposures as new methods aimed at reducing lead exposures from ore were introduced in a community in Nigeria where children experienced substantial lead-related morbidity and mortality.
Methods Extensive outreach and education were offered to miners, and investments were made to adopt wet methods to reduce exposures during mining and processing. We conducted medical surveillance, including a physical exam and repeated blood lead testing, for 61 miners selected from among several hundred who participated in the safer mining pilot programme and consented to testing. Venous blood lead concentrations were analysed using the LeadCare II device at approximately 3-month intervals over a period of 19 months.
Results Overall geometric mean (GM) BLLs decreased by 32% from 31.6 to 21.5 µg/dL during the 19-month project. Women had a somewhat lower reduction in GM BLLs (23%) compared with men (36%). There was a statistically significant reduction in log BLLs from baseline to the final test taken by each participant (p<0.001).
Conclusions The observed reductions in GM BLLs during the pilot intervention among this representative group of miners and ore processors demonstrated the effectiveness of the safer mining programme in this community. Such measures are feasible, cost-effective and can greatly improve health outcomes in mining communities.
Methods Extensive outreach and education were offered to miners, and investments were made to adopt wet methods to reduce exposures during mining and processing. We conducted medical surveillance, including a physical exam and repeated blood lead testing, for 61 miners selected from among several hundred who participated in the safer mining pilot programme and consented to testing. Venous blood lead concentrations were analysed using the LeadCare II device at approximately 3-month intervals over a period of 19 months.
Results Overall geometric mean (GM) BLLs decreased by 32% from 31.6 to 21.5 µg/dL during the 19-month project. Women had a somewhat lower reduction in GM BLLs (23%) compared with men (36%). There was a statistically significant reduction in log BLLs from baseline to the final test taken by each participant (p<0.001).
Conclusions The observed reductions in GM BLLs during the pilot intervention among this representative group of miners and ore processors demonstrated the effectiveness of the safer mining programme in this community. Such measures are feasible, cost-effective and can greatly improve health outcomes in mining communities.
Journal Article > ResearchFull Text
Ann Work Expo Health. 8 December 2018; Volume 63 (Issue 1); 1-8.; DOI:10.1093/annweh/wxy095
Gottesfeld P, Tirima S, Anka SM, Fotso A, Nota MM
Ann Work Expo Health. 8 December 2018; Volume 63 (Issue 1); 1-8.; DOI:10.1093/annweh/wxy095
PURPOSE
An ongoing health crisis across a large area of Northern Nigeria has resulted in hundreds of deaths and thousands of cases of lead poisoning from artisanal small-scale gold mining. Occupational Knowledge International (OK International) and Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) have formed a partnership to conduct a pilot project to introduce safer mining practices in selected communities. The primary objective was to reduce lead exposures among artisanal small-scale miners and minimize take home exposures by reducing dust contamination on clothing and body surfaces.
METHODS
Personal air samples were collected from miners and ore processors before and after the introduction of wet spray misting in mine processing activities to crush and grind gold ore. We measured reductions in total airborne lead and respirable silica dust levels. A total of 44 air samples were collected for airborne lead using NIOSH method 7082 and 29 air samples for respirable silica dust with NIOSH method 7500.
RESULTS
Low-cost interventions to convert dry ore processing to wet methods with spray misting were effective at reducing arithmetic mean airborne lead levels by 95%. Mean airborne respirable silica (quartz) was reduced by 80% following the introduction of wet spray misting. Differences in geometric means between wet and dry ore processing methods were statistically significant for both airborne lead and respirable silica.
CONCLUSIONS
This pilot project has been successful in working cooperatively with miners to provide them with the necessary information and tools to reduce exposures in mining and processing, and minimize off-site contamination. As silica dust is a significant risk factor for silicosis and tuberculosis (TB), this intervention could provide public health benefits to small-scale mining communities even in areas without significant lead concentrations in the ore. Significant reductions in respirable silica and lead exposures are feasible in low-resource, small-scale mining communities.
An ongoing health crisis across a large area of Northern Nigeria has resulted in hundreds of deaths and thousands of cases of lead poisoning from artisanal small-scale gold mining. Occupational Knowledge International (OK International) and Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) have formed a partnership to conduct a pilot project to introduce safer mining practices in selected communities. The primary objective was to reduce lead exposures among artisanal small-scale miners and minimize take home exposures by reducing dust contamination on clothing and body surfaces.
METHODS
Personal air samples were collected from miners and ore processors before and after the introduction of wet spray misting in mine processing activities to crush and grind gold ore. We measured reductions in total airborne lead and respirable silica dust levels. A total of 44 air samples were collected for airborne lead using NIOSH method 7082 and 29 air samples for respirable silica dust with NIOSH method 7500.
RESULTS
Low-cost interventions to convert dry ore processing to wet methods with spray misting were effective at reducing arithmetic mean airborne lead levels by 95%. Mean airborne respirable silica (quartz) was reduced by 80% following the introduction of wet spray misting. Differences in geometric means between wet and dry ore processing methods were statistically significant for both airborne lead and respirable silica.
CONCLUSIONS
This pilot project has been successful in working cooperatively with miners to provide them with the necessary information and tools to reduce exposures in mining and processing, and minimize off-site contamination. As silica dust is a significant risk factor for silicosis and tuberculosis (TB), this intervention could provide public health benefits to small-scale mining communities even in areas without significant lead concentrations in the ore. Significant reductions in respirable silica and lead exposures are feasible in low-resource, small-scale mining communities.