At the forefront of reducing the impacts of mercury

WWF Guianas at the forefront of reducing the impacts of mercury on jewellers

WWF Guianas signed a grant with the University of Guyana to determine the extent of mercury used in the gold jewelry industry in Guyana and to assess its effects on the health and safety of the jewelers and those within the immediate environment the goldsmiths' workshops with a view to promote improved practices with respect to handling, storage and disposal of mercury.

The School of Environmental and Earth Sciences (SEES) of the University of Guyana represented by Dr Mark Bynoe and Florida International University (FIU) represented by Dr Maya Trotz will collaborate in this project. SEES and FIU will provide all the technical requirements of the project, including the laboratory testing.

They will work with the participation of the local gold jewelers and neighboring communities to provide the necessary information for the project. Another stakeholder in the project is the Guyana Geology and Miners Commission (GGMC) which is expected to play a major role in the implementation, monitoring and enforcement of some of the recommendations of the project.

The objectives of this 5 month project (December 2006-April 2007) are:

• To prepare an up-dated and detailed data base of the gold jewelers across Guyana to facilitate regular monitoring;
• To determine the physical conditions, air quality and availability and use of protective equipment by gold jewelers in Guyana;
• To ascertain the use and level of mercury contamination among gold jewelers in Guyana through surveys and tests of selected jewelers;
• To determine the level of awareness of gold jewelers of the health risks and safety conditions posed by exposure to mercury by;
• To build capacity within the sub-sector with a view to ensuring that gold jewelers operate their establishments in a sustainable manner

A power point presentation was done by Rickford Vieira and focused on WWF Guianas goldmining pollution abatement activities in the Guianas. Some best practices of small scale mining in Brazil were also discussed and the Prime Minister recommended that GGMC should adopt and promote some of those practices in Guyana and asked WWF Guianas to assist.

The grant signing was attended by the Prime Minister who is also the Minister responsible for mining, Dominiek Plouvier, WWF Guianas Regional Director, Dr. Patrick Williams, WWF Guianas Program Officer in Guyana, and several other persons from the University of Guyana, Environmental Protection Agency, Guyana Forestry Commission, Guyana Geology and Mines Commission and Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association.

In poorly ventilated work environments mercury vaporizes at room temperature. The jeweler is acutely and chronically exposed to these vapors through inhalation and contact with the skin. Mercury exists in three elemental forms, elemental mercury, inorganic and organic mercury, which are toxic in different ways.

Elemental mercury is absorbed as a vapor and is highly toxic. It vaporizes at room temperature and can cause damage to the nervous system once one is exposed to it. Inorganic mercury is not easily absorbed by the body, but once it does get into the human system it causes damage to the kidneys. Organic mercury is quickly absorbed by the body and therefore far more toxic than inorganic mercury. This form targets the brain and nervous system of humans.

WWF Guianas therefore urges miners, jewelers and others working in goldmining to take the necessary measurements to reduce the risks of humans and the environment being exposed to the dangers of mercury.