Mercury is a liquid metal used in artisanal and smallâscale gold mining to extract gold from rock and sediment. Mercury is toxic and wreaks havoc on minersâ health and the environment. Mercury in gold â mining is of growing international concern. In Uganda, artisanal and smallâscale gold mining is one of the emerging forms of environmental degradation. This is, especially, the case in goldâmining districts and their downâstream areas where water and soil from the mining areas get carried over to.Available reports from previous studies indicate that the excavation of large volumes of alluvial materials and their deposition into the fragile ecosystems, particularly, wetlands has affected the hydrological value of those ecosystems. The quality of water in the different mining sites in Uganda has been affected by mercury pollution (Nabaasa, 2016: MDLG, 2013). The Minamata Convention on Mercury, to which Uganda is a signatory, is anchored on the need to protect human health and the environment from the anthropogenic emissions and releases of mercury and mercury compounds. The convention has not yet changed much in Ugandaâs Goldâmining industry with respect to mercury use. Concerned with the looming problem of Mercury use in the ASGM subsector and with financial support from Foundation Open Society Institute (FOSI) and Open Society Initiative for Eastern Africa (OSIEA), ACCC undertook the study to investigate the status, extent, impact and attitudes towards mercury use in the artisanal gold mining industry in Mubende and Busia. The study commenced in February 2018. Its major objective was to ensure that all undertakings in Ugandaâs ASGM industry conform to the Minamata Convention and Ugandaâs Vision 2040. The latterâs major focus is concerned with ensuring a healthy, literate and wellâinformed society for improved livelihoods and environmental sustainability.Key FindingsAll the sampled respondents (n=204:100%) were using mercury in the different activities of gold extraction and were using bare hands without any protective gears contrary to international guidelines (UNIDO) on mercury use.Majority (n=118: 58%) of the sampled artisanal gold miners were using an average of 1â50gms of mercury per person/week. This translates into 2,800gms per miner/ year. This finding is in line with that of COWI (2016), which observed that, although there are no recent estimates on the use of mercury for ASGM in Uganda, if the average mercury consumption per miner from Busia and Mubende gold-mining sites is applied, the resulting mercury consumption may be estimated at 33â48 tonnes/year. Case control studies have shown that chronic exposure via inhalation, even; at low concentrations in the range of 0.7â42 μg/m could lead to tremors, impaired cognitive skills and sleep disturbances.In terms of exposure, the findings indicated that 90 (44%) respondents had spent between 1 to 4 years using mercury. The rest of the 114 (56%) respondents had spent between 5 to 29 years using mercury in the artisanal gold mining business. It was noted that the majority of the mining category using the chemical were female. The supply chain of Mercury in Mubende and Busia is comprised of; Foreign Traders of Indian, and Chinese origin. These bring in and sell mercury to the ASGMs through local mercury traders. It was established that Local Traders who sell mercury to the ASGMs are in most cases gold buyers; interestingly, it was found out that some Hospital and Laboratory officers smuggle and illegally sell mercury meant for hospital and laboratory operations to middlemen who then deliver it to the ASGMs. In the study areas (Mubende and Busia), Mercury is typically distributed in 100gm plastic bottles. Each bottle is sold at UGX 2,000 per gram as revealed by the sampled respondents. This figure translates to USD ($) 0.6, that is, 3,500 UGX at the current exchange rate (June 2018). The plastic bottles are small, unlabeled and in some cases the bottles have labels of other products other than mercury. This perhaps is meant to disguise the identity of the bottle content.In terms of perceptions and knowledge on the use of mercury, majority of the respondents (n=140, 69%) were not concerned about the current state of mercury use in their areas of operation. The lack of concern about the current state of mercuryâuse was attributed to absence of awareness programs on the dangers and effects of mercury among the artisanal goldminers. This was revealed by100% of the respondents in Mubende, and 61% in Busia. The foregoing notwithstanding, majority of the respondents (n=118, 58%) expressed fears regarding the health and environmental implications of mercury use in gold extraction. Particularly, the fear of getting cancer, becoming infertile and impotent was laudable. Respondents further expressed concern over the possibility of mercury polluting food and water resources. Thus, it was observed by the research team, that all the sampled gold â mining sites, are located within or a few meters away from domestic water sources and agricultural gardens. This is contrary to international guidelines onmercuryâuse, which state that no amalgamation washing and sluicing using mercury shall be done along or close to rivers, streams or any other water sources. This is also in line with WGIâs (2017) finding, which established that indeed water bodies were located a few kilometers from mining sites.Pregnant women and children below the age of sixteen years old were present at almost all the mining sites visited. This is contrary to UNIDO standards and Guidelines on protection of pregnant women and children from mercury pollution. It was further discovered that most of the minerâs store mercury in closed containers (n=118, 40%). These containers are either kept at home (n=109, 37%) or at the site (n=57, 20%). Keeping mercury at home is also contrary to the UNIDOâs requirement that Mercury should NOT be stored in domestic residences, and, should not be accessible to children. In terms of management of mercury waste and used mercury bottles, majority of the sampled miners were using open dumping at the goldâmining sites. This was represented by n=103 (35%), followed by those who manage it through burying (28%) and those who dump on the roads (10%). The practice of open dumping of wastes contravenes the Uganda National Environment waste management regulations, 1998. The practice is also contrary to Article 39 of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda, which calls for a clean and healthy environment for the enjoyment of all Ugandans.ConclusionThe study presented a number of interesting findings on artisanal and smallâscale gold minersâ perceptions, knowledge, and levels of exposure on the use of mercury. This has provided a birdâs eye view into what characterizes the use of mercury in Mubende and Busia goldâmining sites. This also informed the recommendations provided in this report with the aim of contributing towards improved public health through strategies that can lead to minimization of mercuryâuse in the ASGM subsector and the chemicalâs eventual elimination among ASGMs. If recommendations on mercuryâfreeâtechnologies as suggested in this report are adopted, it is believed the gesture will go a long way in promoting the protection of human health and environmental in Uganda and beyond.RecommendationsBased on the above findings, ACCC recommends the following action points.a. Since government of Uganda passed the Mining Policy in 2001, the Mining Act in 2003, and Mining Regulations in 2004; the current Mineral Policies and Legislation need to provide sufficient opportunities for the formalization of artisanal goldmining in Uganda.b.Artisanal mining sites need to have formal structures that regulate their activities. There is, thus, urgent need to duly legalize and formalize the ASGM sector by government and designate specific sites for gold mining.c. There is urgent need to conduct trainings and awareness programs on mercury use, storage, and management among the artisanal and smallâ scale gold miners in Mubende, Busia, and other artisanal gold mining sites in Uganda.d. There is a need for government of Uganda through MEMD, MOH, NEMA and UNBS to develop a Policy, Legislation and Regulations on MercuryâUse and where feasible, eliminate mercury use in artisanal and smallâscale gold mining, as per the Minamata Convention.e.There is a need by government to identify and promote alternative mercuryâ free technologies that increase (or, at least, maintain) income for miners, and are better for health and the environment protection. Such methods may include; the use of gravity methods, panning and direct smelting (borax) among others.f. There is a need to centralize management of mercury waste among the ASGMs by establishing waste management systems, especially, for contaminated waste water, used mercury bottles, and tailings. This system should be developed in such a way that is affordable and accessible for the ASGMs. This system has been adopted and worked well in other jurisdictions such as Ecuador and Mongolia among others.g. There is urgent need to examine the level of concentration of mercury in the bodies of miners, existing water sources, and agricultural soils in the gold mining sites of Mubende and Busia. The laboratory testing is critical in coming up with a proper and lasting solution in lieu of public health and environmental quality protection.
