FREE CRAFT DANGERS LINKED TO THE MODE OF WASHING UTILIZATION OF MERCURY INTOXICATION BY THE MERCURY 3°) Why is mercury a dangerous

product for miners and their family? 5°) How are we exposed to mercury in MINERS AWARENESS CAMPAIGN artisanal gold activities? ON THE DANGER ASSOCIATED § Mercury is a hazardous chemical to § WITH THE USE OF MERCURY. the environment and highly toxic. Inhalation of mercury vapor in the

DATE : MARCH 2015 § It can cause brain, nerve, kidney air from burning . § PLACE : GOLD PANNING SITE and lung damage and, in extreme Exposure via oral ingestion or

OF SAKDJE AND MBOUKMA cases, coma or death. consumption of food contaminated

§ It is carcinogenic, harmful to with mercury. § IDENTIFICATION OF MERCURY reproduction, and interferes with the Through the skin.

development of children.

1°) What is mercury? 6°) When mercury is present, at what

At room temperature, elemental 4°) What is the environmental point is there a risk of poisoning for

mercury is a liquid, silver-colored heavy impact of the use of mercury in humans? metal . It becomes gaseous when artisanal mining of gold? § A mass of 10 mg of mercury is is heated from 356.58 ° C. enough to contaminate 10,000 liters It takes both organic and inorganic § Water and sediment pollution; of water for consumption; § Ecosystem contamination; § forms in the environment. The limit of mercury in the air is § Air pollution by mercury vapor; around 0.2 mg / m3. 2°) How is mercury used in the gold § Plant contamination. § panning site? The ingestion of a small drop of

mercury is fatal. Mercury combines with gold to form an amalgam that facilitates separation of gold from the rock, sand or other materials. The amalgam is then heated to vaporize the mercury and keep only the gold.

SYMPTOMS OF HUMAN 9°) Why ban mercury in WHAT CAMEROONIAN POISONING BY MERCURY sites? LAW SAYS ABOUT 7°) What are the symptoms of illnesses ARTISANAL GOLD caused by mercury? § Mercury is considered by WHO as MINING OPERATIONS one of the ten chemicals of extreme § § Mining Legislation: Law No. 001 of Acute exposure: flu, fever, body concern to public health; 16 April 2001 on the Mining Code; aches, dry throat, headache; § In the artisanal gold-washing sites, § § Chapter I of Title III, art.24 31 - Chronic exposure: slight tremor of mercury is poorly used and presents the fingers, hands and lips, fatigue, Mining Code on Artisanal Mining. dangers for people and the § Chapter V of Title V, Art.85 to 88- insomnia, lack of appetite, memory environment. Mining code on environmental loss . protection.

WHAT CAN THE INTERNATIONAL TREATIES GOVERNMENT AND MEASURES TO REDUCE ON PROHIBITION OF HEALTH SERVICES DO MERCURY USE AND MERCURY IN ARTISANAL ABOUT THE PROBLEM EXPOSURE TO THIS GOLD-WASHING ACTIVITIES OF MERCURY? § Adopt measures to legalize artisanal SUBSTANCE IN HANDICRAFT § Stockholm Convention on Persistent mining and small-scale activities; GOLD-WASHING SITES. Organic Pollutants; § Provide assistance (through education, 8°) What can the mining communities § Minamata Convention on Mercury training and health care) to miners and do to reduce the use of and exposure adopted in October 2013 with the their families; to mercury? goal of protecting human health and § Encourage and help communities the environment from anthropogenic organize to produce and put on the emissions of mercury and mercury § Alternatives to the whole gold market "clean," high-value compounds “(Article1)” amalgamation: panning, gravity products. separation;

§ Precautions: wear gloves, boots, NGO COPRESSA

nose masks, waste management; COPRESSA : Centre Optionnel pour la Maroua-Djarengol § Mercury alternatives: using methods Promotion et la Régénération Economique et Sociale Secteur Afrique. that do not require the use of POBox:409 Maroua mercury. Email :[email protected] Phone : (+237)699417151/677602938 Web : http : //copres-sa.e-monsite.com