Concentration of Total Mercury in the Blood, Urine and Hair of Gold Panners, Gold Traders, People Living in and Around Gold Panning Sites in the Territory of Fizi, DRC

Nsambu Mukondwa Pascal; Musibono Eyul’Anki Dieudonné; Mputu Kanyinda Jean-Noël

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ijee.20200501.11

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Concentration of Total Mercury in the Blood, Urine and Hair of Gold Panners, Gold Traders, People Living in and Around Gold Panning Sites in the Territory of Fizi, DRC

Nsambu Mukondwa Pascal, Musibono Eyul’Anki Dieudonné, Mputu Kanyinda Jean-Noël

Published in International Journal of Ecotoxicology and Ecobiology (Volume 5, Issue 1)

Received: 28 December 2019 Accepted: 7 January 2020 Published: 16 January 2020

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Abstract

This study covered a demographic sample of 384 people including gold panners, gold traders, people living in and around the gold panning sites in the Fizi territory who were selected from the total population of 17900 people using the stratified sampling technique. The main objective of this study was to determine total mercury content in samples of biological matrixes (blood, urine and hair) provided by the above-mentioned individuals over a 16-month cycle (August and December 2016 to August and December 2017). Total mercury was determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS) for each biological matrix studied. The results found revealed that only people residing in the reference site or non-mining site (Lulimba) had the lowest total mercury levels in compliance with WHO standards for all biological matrix studied (blood, hair and urine). In fact, for these entire biological matrixes, gold panners presented the highest total mercury levels, followed in turn by gold traders, subjects living near gold-mercury (Au-Hg) amalgamation incineration sites and gold trading houses, and villagers living in the gold panning sites. In view of the above, it is necessary to consider adequate solutions that can protect people from mercurial toxicity. To this end, particular attention would be focused on the scrupulous application of safety standards in relation to the handling of mercury in general and other toxic products in particular, the conduct to be followed during the incineration of gold-mercury amalgam, etc.

Published in	International Journal of Ecotoxicology and Ecobiology (Volume 5, Issue 1)
DOI	10.11648/j.ijee.20200501.11
Page(s)	1-12
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2020. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Gold Panners, Gold Traders, Fizi Territory, Blood, Urine, Hair, Gold Panning Sites, Eastern Democratic Republic of Cong

References

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APA Style

Nsambu Mukondwa Pascal, Musibono Eyul’Anki Dieudonné, Mputu Kanyinda Jean-Noël. (2020). Concentration of Total Mercury in the Blood, Urine and Hair of Gold Panners, Gold Traders, People Living in and Around Gold Panning Sites in the Territory of Fizi, DRC. International Journal of Ecotoxicology and Ecobiology, 5(1), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijee.20200501.11

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ACS Style

Nsambu Mukondwa Pascal; Musibono Eyul’Anki Dieudonné; Mputu Kanyinda Jean-Noël. Concentration of Total Mercury in the Blood, Urine and Hair of Gold Panners, Gold Traders, People Living in and Around Gold Panning Sites in the Territory of Fizi, DRC. Int. J. Ecotoxicol. Ecobiol. 2020, 5(1), 1-12. doi: 10.11648/j.ijee.20200501.11

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AMA Style

Nsambu Mukondwa Pascal, Musibono Eyul’Anki Dieudonné, Mputu Kanyinda Jean-Noël. Concentration of Total Mercury in the Blood, Urine and Hair of Gold Panners, Gold Traders, People Living in and Around Gold Panning Sites in the Territory of Fizi, DRC. Int J Ecotoxicol Ecobiol. 2020;5(1):1-12. doi: 10.11648/j.ijee.20200501.11

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@article{10.11648/j.ijee.20200501.11,
  author = {Nsambu Mukondwa Pascal and Musibono Eyul’Anki Dieudonné and Mputu Kanyinda Jean-Noël},
  title = {Concentration of Total Mercury in the Blood, Urine and Hair of Gold Panners, Gold Traders, People Living in and Around Gold Panning Sites in the Territory of Fizi, DRC},
  journal = {International Journal of Ecotoxicology and Ecobiology},
  volume = {5},
  number = {1},
  pages = {1-12},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijee.20200501.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijee.20200501.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijee.20200501.11},
  abstract = {This study covered a demographic sample of 384 people including gold panners, gold traders, people living in and around the gold panning sites in the Fizi territory who were selected from the total population of 17900 people using the stratified sampling technique. The main objective of this study was to determine total mercury content in samples of biological matrixes (blood, urine and hair) provided by the above-mentioned individuals over a 16-month cycle (August and December 2016 to August and December 2017). Total mercury was determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS) for each biological matrix studied. The results found revealed that only people residing in the reference site or non-mining site (Lulimba) had the lowest total mercury levels in compliance with WHO standards for all biological matrix studied (blood, hair and urine). In fact, for these entire biological matrixes, gold panners presented the highest total mercury levels, followed in turn by gold traders, subjects living near gold-mercury (Au-Hg) amalgamation incineration sites and gold trading houses, and villagers living in the gold panning sites. In view of the above, it is necessary to consider adequate solutions that can protect people from mercurial toxicity. To this end, particular attention would be focused on the scrupulous application of safety standards in relation to the handling of mercury in general and other toxic products in particular, the conduct to be followed during the incineration of gold-mercury amalgam, etc.},
 year = {2020}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Concentration of Total Mercury in the Blood, Urine and Hair of Gold Panners, Gold Traders, People Living in and Around Gold Panning Sites in the Territory of Fizi, DRC
AU  - Nsambu Mukondwa Pascal
AU  - Musibono Eyul’Anki Dieudonné
AU  - Mputu Kanyinda Jean-Noël
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PY  - 2020
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijee.20200501.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijee.20200501.11
T2  - International Journal of Ecotoxicology and Ecobiology
JF  - International Journal of Ecotoxicology and Ecobiology
JO  - International Journal of Ecotoxicology and Ecobiology
SP  - 1
EP  - 12
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2575-1735
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijee.20200501.11
AB  - This study covered a demographic sample of 384 people including gold panners, gold traders, people living in and around the gold panning sites in the Fizi territory who were selected from the total population of 17900 people using the stratified sampling technique. The main objective of this study was to determine total mercury content in samples of biological matrixes (blood, urine and hair) provided by the above-mentioned individuals over a 16-month cycle (August and December 2016 to August and December 2017). Total mercury was determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS) for each biological matrix studied. The results found revealed that only people residing in the reference site or non-mining site (Lulimba) had the lowest total mercury levels in compliance with WHO standards for all biological matrix studied (blood, hair and urine). In fact, for these entire biological matrixes, gold panners presented the highest total mercury levels, followed in turn by gold traders, subjects living near gold-mercury (Au-Hg) amalgamation incineration sites and gold trading houses, and villagers living in the gold panning sites. In view of the above, it is necessary to consider adequate solutions that can protect people from mercurial toxicity. To this end, particular attention would be focused on the scrupulous application of safety standards in relation to the handling of mercury in general and other toxic products in particular, the conduct to be followed during the incineration of gold-mercury amalgam, etc.
VL  - 5
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Author Information

Nsambu Mukondwa Pascal

Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Doctoral Cycle, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
Musibono Eyul’Anki Dieudonné

Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Doctoral Cycle, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
Mputu Kanyinda Jean-Noël

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Nsambu Mukondwa Pascal, Musibono Eyul’Anki Dieudonné, Mputu Kanyinda Jean-Noël. (2020). Concentration of Total Mercury in the Blood, Urine and Hair of Gold Panners, Gold Traders, People Living in and Around Gold Panning Sites in the Territory of Fizi, DRC. International Journal of Ecotoxicology and Ecobiology, 5(1), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijee.20200501.11

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ACS Style

Nsambu Mukondwa Pascal; Musibono Eyul’Anki Dieudonné; Mputu Kanyinda Jean-Noël. Concentration of Total Mercury in the Blood, Urine and Hair of Gold Panners, Gold Traders, People Living in and Around Gold Panning Sites in the Territory of Fizi, DRC. Int. J. Ecotoxicol. Ecobiol. 2020, 5(1), 1-12. doi: 10.11648/j.ijee.20200501.11

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AMA Style

Nsambu Mukondwa Pascal, Musibono Eyul’Anki Dieudonné, Mputu Kanyinda Jean-Noël. Concentration of Total Mercury in the Blood, Urine and Hair of Gold Panners, Gold Traders, People Living in and Around Gold Panning Sites in the Territory of Fizi, DRC. Int J Ecotoxicol Ecobiol. 2020;5(1):1-12. doi: 10.11648/j.ijee.20200501.11

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@article{10.11648/j.ijee.20200501.11,
  author = {Nsambu Mukondwa Pascal and Musibono Eyul’Anki Dieudonné and Mputu Kanyinda Jean-Noël},
  title = {Concentration of Total Mercury in the Blood, Urine and Hair of Gold Panners, Gold Traders, People Living in and Around Gold Panning Sites in the Territory of Fizi, DRC},
  journal = {International Journal of Ecotoxicology and Ecobiology},
  volume = {5},
  number = {1},
  pages = {1-12},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijee.20200501.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijee.20200501.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijee.20200501.11},
  abstract = {This study covered a demographic sample of 384 people including gold panners, gold traders, people living in and around the gold panning sites in the Fizi territory who were selected from the total population of 17900 people using the stratified sampling technique. The main objective of this study was to determine total mercury content in samples of biological matrixes (blood, urine and hair) provided by the above-mentioned individuals over a 16-month cycle (August and December 2016 to August and December 2017). Total mercury was determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS) for each biological matrix studied. The results found revealed that only people residing in the reference site or non-mining site (Lulimba) had the lowest total mercury levels in compliance with WHO standards for all biological matrix studied (blood, hair and urine). In fact, for these entire biological matrixes, gold panners presented the highest total mercury levels, followed in turn by gold traders, subjects living near gold-mercury (Au-Hg) amalgamation incineration sites and gold trading houses, and villagers living in the gold panning sites. In view of the above, it is necessary to consider adequate solutions that can protect people from mercurial toxicity. To this end, particular attention would be focused on the scrupulous application of safety standards in relation to the handling of mercury in general and other toxic products in particular, the conduct to be followed during the incineration of gold-mercury amalgam, etc.},
 year = {2020}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Concentration of Total Mercury in the Blood, Urine and Hair of Gold Panners, Gold Traders, People Living in and Around Gold Panning Sites in the Territory of Fizi, DRC
AU  - Nsambu Mukondwa Pascal
AU  - Musibono Eyul’Anki Dieudonné
AU  - Mputu Kanyinda Jean-Noël
Y1  - 2020/01/16
PY  - 2020
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijee.20200501.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijee.20200501.11
T2  - International Journal of Ecotoxicology and Ecobiology
JF  - International Journal of Ecotoxicology and Ecobiology
JO  - International Journal of Ecotoxicology and Ecobiology
SP  - 1
EP  - 12
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2575-1735
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijee.20200501.11
AB  - This study covered a demographic sample of 384 people including gold panners, gold traders, people living in and around the gold panning sites in the Fizi territory who were selected from the total population of 17900 people using the stratified sampling technique. The main objective of this study was to determine total mercury content in samples of biological matrixes (blood, urine and hair) provided by the above-mentioned individuals over a 16-month cycle (August and December 2016 to August and December 2017). Total mercury was determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS) for each biological matrix studied. The results found revealed that only people residing in the reference site or non-mining site (Lulimba) had the lowest total mercury levels in compliance with WHO standards for all biological matrix studied (blood, hair and urine). In fact, for these entire biological matrixes, gold panners presented the highest total mercury levels, followed in turn by gold traders, subjects living near gold-mercury (Au-Hg) amalgamation incineration sites and gold trading houses, and villagers living in the gold panning sites. In view of the above, it is necessary to consider adequate solutions that can protect people from mercurial toxicity. To this end, particular attention would be focused on the scrupulous application of safety standards in relation to the handling of mercury in general and other toxic products in particular, the conduct to be followed during the incineration of gold-mercury amalgam, etc.
VL  - 5
IS  - 1
ER  -

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