While men are more engaged in ASM, women predominantly participate in
gold processing which can bring huge health risks due to unsafe mercury
use. It is estimated that between 10 and 15 per cent of artisanal
miners are children with an average age of 15. Working conditions in
informal gold mining pose serious risks to the miners’ health and
safety. In hard-rock mining, the risks are associated with the use of
explosives, tunnel collapse, and crushing and milling of the ore. In
Gold Mining, mercury is used in the amalgamation process to separate
the gold from the ore. Use of mercury poses multiple health risks
arising from skin exposure to metallic mercury, inhalation of mercury
vapour, and entry of mercury into the food chain and drinking water
supply. Relationships between ASM and LSM have often been conflictual
in nature and leading large scale mines are testing and developing
innovative approaches.
http://csr-asia.com/csr-asia-weekly-news-detail.php?id=12353
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