Authors: Víctor GonzálezCarrasco Patricio C VelasquezLopez Jesús OliveroVerbel Nerlis PájaroCastro
Publish Date: 2011/07/17
Volume: 87, Issue: 3, Pages: 250-
Abstract
Portovelo is one of the oldest gold mining towns in Ecuador Artisanal gold mining still uses mercury in the process of gold recovery In this study mercury concentrations in the air of Portovelo were evaluated High mercury levels in the ambient were found in El Pache sector where most gold mining processing plants are located These varied between 23567 ± 18076 and 36995 ± 12253 ng/m3 during the rainy and dry seasons respectively Lower levels were detected in the urban central area of Portovelo with 2146 ± 437 ng/m3 in the rainy season and 5742 ± 728 ng/m3 in the dry season exceeding the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry minimum risk level of 200 ng/m3 Average mercury concentrations in exhaled air from miners measured before and after amalgam burning ranged between 179–1352 and 2007–3389 ng/m3 respectively These data suggest Portovelo air is polluted with mercury and humans are being dangerously exposed Therefore strong actions must be undertaken to protect human and environmental health including changing gold recovery systems
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