KEDOUGOU, Senegal โ Sadio Camara uses mercury to extract gold from rock. Outside her home in the verdant region of southeastern Senegal, she swirls the toxic substance within a bucket of murky sediment, her children by her side. Camara acknowledges the hazards of mercury, noting, โI avoid drinking water that might be contaminated with it.โ Despite this, she continues to engage in gold processing, dismissing the potential risks due to handling small quantities.
Mercury, however, poses significant health threats even in limited exposure. Across the informal mining sector in West Africa, mercury is extensively employed for gold extraction, despite its dangers. In the gold-abundant area of Kedougou, women engage regularly with this neurotoxin without using protective gear. Handling mercury can lead to severe health consequences, including irreversible brain damage, developmental issues, and sensory loss. Once released, mercury permeates effortlessly through air, water, and soil, contaminating ecosystems and entering the food chain. This is especially true after heavy rains, which exacerbate environmental contamination.
Research conducted by Duke University in 2018 highlighted the alarming mercury levels in soil and water in southeastern Senegal, far surpassing safety standards. Mercuryโs capability to bind with gold makes it a staple among miners. The process involves mixing the metal with crushed ore, followed by heating to evaporate the mercury, leaving behind the desired gold. Though this method proves efficient, it is perilous. โIf the harm was immediate, akin to a knife wound, people might desist. The danger, however, unfolds over the years,โ said Doudou Dramรฉ, advocating for safer mining practices in the region. The process involves burning mercury in the open, releasing hazardous vapors, which is particularly concerning.
Globally, artisanal and small-scale gold mining ranks as the top source of mercury emissions, outperforming coal combustion. Within Senegal, such mining operations discharge an estimated 12 to 16 metric tons of mercury annually. โKedougouโs land is highly fertile, but mercury taints everything. Our livestock is affected, and eventual consumption by humans perpetuates the cycle,โ Dramรฉ lamented.
Life near the contaminated water poses additional risks for women and children. On the pondโs muddy fringes, women toil daily, sifting through sediment for gold. These women, expected also to handle household chores, spend extensive time in contaminated water, potentially exposing themselves and their families to mercury. Pregnant and nursing women face elevated risks because mercury can affect fetal development and contaminate breast milk.
In the proximity of a waterbody near Camaraโs home, the gold extraction process progresses unabated. Camara heats mercury-coated sediments, releasing toxic fumes without any safety measures. Although typically the task of handling burning is relegated to men, women like Camara frequently engage unprotected in the amalgamation process. The impact on her family is tangible, with one of her children often ailing with stomach issues, though Camara is yet to correlate it directly with mercury exposure.
Gold mining generates substantial income, a compelling reason for women like Camara to brave the risks. The activity supplements their income beyond what traditional agriculture can provide, with some generating up to $745 monthly, well above the national average income. Despite Senegal committing to mitigate mercury pollution through the Minamata Convention since 2016, mercury remains readily available, sourced both regionally and from illegal channels.
The governmentโs initiative to establish 400 mercury-free processing facilities remains largely unimplemented, with only one operational site near Camaraโs community. This lone facility employs gravity rather than mercury for extraction, but it sits underutilized due to distance and inefficiency issues. As a result, many miners revert to conventional mercury practices.
Efforts to communicate with the regional mining director were unsuccessful, amidst concerns the department was suspended. Residents express skepticism over governmental commitments, particularly since a leadership change in 2024 has yet to deliver notable improvements.
Temporary regulatory measures have aimed to restrict mining near the Faleme River to reduce contamination. However, enforcement is weak against the incessant influx of miners drawn from across borders. Critics argue that these measures barely touch on the prevalent issue.
Goumbala proposes placing processing units directly within villages, albeit recognizing challenges in cost, logistics, and miner resistance given mercuryโs profitability. โCommunities must understand that money saved with mercury will ultimately be spent on health issues it causes in the longer term,โ Goumbala warns, stressing the need for changing mindsets for future safety.