Elias Charles|Deborah S.K. Thomas|Deborah Dewey|Mark Davey|Sospatro E. Ngallaba|Eveline T. Konje
A cross-sectional survey on knowledge and perceptions of health risks associated with arsenic and mercury contamination from artisanal gold mining in Tanzania
Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences|University of Colorado Denver|University of Calgary|Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences|Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences
estimated 05 15 million informal miners 3050 women rely artisanal mining livelihood tanzania mercury used processing gold ore arsenic constituent ores common occupational exposures frequently result widespread environmental contamination frequently mining activities conducted haphazardly without regard environmental occupational community exposure primary objective study assess community risk knowledge perception potential mercury arsenic toxicity andor exposure artisanal gold mining rwamagasa northwestern tanzaniaa crosssectional survey respondents five subvillages rwamagasa village located geita district northwestern tanzania near lake victoria conducted area history artisanal gold mining many population continue work miners using clustered random selection approach recruitment total 160 individuals 18 years age completed structured interviewthe interviews revealed wide variations knowledge risk perceptions concerning mercury arsenic exposure 406 n65 894 n143 aware health effects mercury arsenic exposure respectively males significantly knowledgeable n59 369 females n36 225 regard mercury x399 p005 individuals occupation category associated level knowledge x2282 p0001 individuals involved mining n63 732 knowledgeable negative health effects mercury individuals occupations individuals n17 106 knew arsenic toxicity majority n10 588 minersthe knowledge individuals living rwamagasa tanzania area history artisanal gold mining varied widely regard health hazards mercury arsenic communities limited awareness threats health associated exposure mercury arsenic lack knowledge combined minimal environmental monitoring controlled waste management practices highlights need health education surveillance policy changes