Mercury Mining in Mexico: I. Community Engagement to Improve Health Outcomes from Artisanal Mining.
Mercury is an element that cannot be destroyed and is a global threat to human and environmental health. In Latin America and the Caribbean, artisanal and small-scale gold mining represents the main source of mercury emissions, releases, and consumption. However, another source of concern is the primary production of mercury. In the case of Mexico, in the past 2 years the informal production of mercury mining has increased 10-fold. Considering this scenario, an intervention program was initiated to reduce health risks in the mining communities. The program's final goal is to introduce different alternatives in line to stop the mining of mercury, but introducing at the same time, a community-based development program.



The aim of this study was to present results from a preliminary study in the community of Plazuela, located in the municipality of Peñamiller in the State of Queretaro, Mexico.



Total mercury was measured in urine and environmental samples using atomic absorption spectrometry by cold vapor technique. Urine samples were collected from children aged 6-14 years and who had lived in the selected area from birth. Urine samples were also collected from miners who were currently working in the mine. To confirm the presence of mercury in the community, mining waste, water, soil, and sediment samples were collected from those high-risk areas identified by members of the community.



Children, women, and miners were heavily exposed to mercury (urine samples); and in agreement, we registered high concentrations of mercury in soils and sediments.



Considering these results and taking into account that the risk perception toward mercury toxicity is very low in the community (mining is the only economic activity), an integral intervention program has started.
Centro de Investigación Aplicada en Ambiente y Salud, Facultad de Medicina-CIACYT, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, México.
Andrea
A
Camacho
Centro de Investigación Aplicada en Ambiente y Salud, Facultad de Medicina-CIACYT, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, México.
Evelyn
E
Van Brussel
Centro de Investigación Aplicada en Ambiente y Salud, Facultad de Medicina-CIACYT, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, México.
Leticia
L
Carrizales
Centro de Investigación Aplicada en Ambiente y Salud, Facultad de Medicina-CIACYT, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, México.
Rogelio
R
Flores-Ramírez
Facultad de Química, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, México.
Beatriz
B
Verduzco
Centro de Investigación Aplicada en Ambiente y Salud, Facultad de Medicina-CIACYT, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, México.
Selene Ruvalcaba-Aranda
SR
Huerta
Centro de Investigación Aplicada en Ambiente y Salud, Facultad de Medicina-CIACYT, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, México.
Mauricio
M
Leon
Centro de Investigación Aplicada en Ambiente y Salud, Facultad de Medicina-CIACYT, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, México. Electronic address: fdia@uaslp.mx.
Fernando
F
Díaz-Barriga
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D006046:Gold; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008628:Mercury / Q000633:toxicity* / Q000652:urine*; D008800:Mexico; D008906:Mining; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D018570:Risk Assessment; D035862:Vulnerable Populations
D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D006046:Gold; D008628:Mercury
Mexico; Minamata Convention; children's environmental health; mercury; mining