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

Rasmus Køster-Rasmussen; Maria L Westergaard; Marie Sørensen Brasholt; Richard Gutierrez; Erik Jørs; Jane Frølund Thomsen

doi:10.1177/1048291115607929

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

Rasmus Køster-Rasmussen, Maria L Westergaard, Marie Sørensen Brasholt, Richard Gutierrez, Erik Jørs, Jane Frølund Thomsen

7 Citations (Scopus)

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.

Original language	English
Journal	New Solutions: A Journal of Environmental and Occupational Health Policy
Volume	25
Issue number	4
Pages (from-to)	567-587
Number of pages	21
ISSN	1048-2911
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/1048291115607929
Publication status	Published - 1 Feb 2016

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Køster-Rasmussen, R., Westergaard, M. L., Brasholt, M. S., Gutierrez, R., Jørs, E., & Thomsen, J. F. (2016). 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. New Solutions: A Journal of Environmental and Occupational Health Policy, 25(4), 567-587. https://doi.org/10.1177/1048291115607929

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. / Køster-Rasmussen, Rasmus; Westergaard, Maria L; Brasholt, Marie Sørensen et al.
In: New Solutions: A Journal of Environmental and Occupational Health Policy, Vol. 25, No. 4, 01.02.2016, p. 567-587.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review

Køster-Rasmussen, R, Westergaard, ML, Brasholt, MS, Gutierrez, R, Jørs, E & Thomsen, JF 2016, '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', New Solutions: A Journal of Environmental and Occupational Health Policy, vol. 25, no. 4, pp. 567-587. https://doi.org/10.1177/1048291115607929

Køster-Rasmussen R, Westergaard ML, Brasholt MS, Gutierrez R, Jørs E, Thomsen JF. 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. New Solutions: A Journal of Environmental and Occupational Health Policy. 2016 Feb 1;25(4):567-587. doi: 10.1177/1048291115607929

Køster-Rasmussen, Rasmus ; Westergaard, Maria L ; Brasholt, Marie Sørensen et al. / 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. In: New Solutions: A Journal of Environmental and Occupational Health Policy. 2016 ; Vol. 25, No. 4. pp. 567-587.

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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.",

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AB - 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.

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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

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