title: Mercury Pollution from Small-Scale Gold Mining Can Be Stopped by Implementing the Gravity-Borax Method--A Two-Year Follow-Up Study from Two Mining Communities in the Philippines.
abstract: Mercury is used globally to extract gold in artisanal and small-scale gold mining. The mercury-free gravity-borax method for gold extraction was introduced in two mining communities using mercury in the provinces Kalinga and Camarines Norte. This article describes project activities and quantitative changes in mercury consumption and analyzes the implementation with diffusion of innovations theory. Activities included miner-to-miner training; seminars for health-care workers, school teachers, and children; and involvement of community leaders. Baseline (2011) and follow-up (2013) data were gathered on mining practices and knowledge about mercury toxicology. Most miners in Kalinga converted to the gravity-borax method, whereas only a few did so in Camarines Norte. Differences in the nature of the social systems impacted the success of the implementation, and involvement of the tribal organization facilitated the shift in Kalinga. In conclusion, the gravity-borax method is a doable alternative to mercury use in artisanal and small-scale gold mining, but support from the civil society is needed.
authors.affiliation: The Research Unit for General Practice and Section of General Practice, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Denmark The Danish NGO Diálogos, Odense, Denmark glr478@sund.ku.dk.
authors.forename: Rasmus
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Køster-Rasmussen
authors.affiliation: The Danish NGO Diálogos, Odense, Denmark Department of Neurology, Glostrup Hospital, Denmark.
authors.forename: Maria L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Westergaard
authors.affiliation: The Danish NGO Diálogos, Odense, Denmark.
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brasholt
authors.affiliation: The Philippine NGO Ban Toxics!, Quezon City, Philippines.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gutierrez
authors.affiliation: The Danish NGO Diálogos, Odense, Denmark Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Odense University Hospital, Denmark ICOEPH, Danish Society of Occupational Medicine, Odense, Denmark.
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jørs
authors.affiliation: The Danish NGO Diálogos, Odense, Denmark ICOEPH, Danish Society of Occupational Medicine, Odense, Denmark Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Bispebjerg University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Jane F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Thomsen
mesh_terms: D001881:Borates; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006046:Gold; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training; D008628:Mercury; D008906:Mining / Q000379:methods*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000517:prevention & control; D010679:Philippines; D011482:Protective Devices / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
chemical_list: D001881:Borates; C018851:borax; D006046:Gold; D008628:Mercury
keywords: borax; diffusion of innovation; environmental pollution; gold; mercury; mining; small-scale gold mining; technology transfer