Environmental Impacts of Mercury in Artisanal and Small- Scale Gold Mining in ALabeidiya, Berber Province, North Sudan

Abstract

ABSTRACT Mercury concentration in the air is one of the mercury exposure biomarkers. This study was conducted in the Alabedia mining area during April and May 2019. The study aimed to evaluate the impact of mercury residues and exposure due to traditional gold mining in northern Sudan, particularly Alabedia, and it is harmful in artisanal and small-scale environmental impact. The study involved twenty-nine (29) samples of mercury mixed gold, which is namely known as amalgam, which was collected directly from the study area Alabedia mining area, Berber Locality in the River Nile State at longitudes (33‫ج‬ 55ˋ 30ˋˋ and 34‫ج‬ 01ˋ 30ˋˋ) E and latitudes (18‫ج‬ 19ˋ 30ˋˋ and 18‫ج‬ 15ˋ 00ˋˋ) N between April and May 2019. Evaporated mercury gas were determined after samples were burned directly in free air according to the traditional local method used in artisanal and small-scale gold mining. The study observed a significant (P‫ة‬0.05) difference in mercury gas weight when compared with amalgam samples before burning (1276.33g) versus after burning (503.63g). The mean value of amalgam's weight reduction of amalgam was 503.63g gold, with a weight loss of about 772.70g as mercury gas emitted into the atmosphere. Moreover, the result showed that the minimum sample weight of 4.57g of amalgam was significantly (P‫ة‬0.05) reduced after burning into 1.37g of gold, of which 3.20g were released in the form of mercury gas traditional methods in terms of artisanal and small-scale gold mining flourishes. Finally, data were analyzed using Minitab software version®18. The mercury gas significantly increases in the traditional gold miners working in Alabedia while the wind's topographical features, speed, and direction during April to May move toward Alabedia town from the study area; this indicates that such factors may complicate and amplify the negative impact on the environment. As a result, the fruits are heavily polluted by exposed mercury gas and residuals in the air, soil, and water of Alabedia surrounding areas, causing negative environmental impact, particularly on human life.