Health Studies in the Context of Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining: A Scoping Review

Hermínio Cossa, Rahel Scheidegger, Andrea Leuenberger, Priska Ammann, Khátia Munguambe, Jürg Utzinger, Eusébio Macete and Mirko S. Winkler
Additional contact information
Hermínio Cossa: Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, P.O. Box, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland
Rahel Scheidegger: Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, P.O. Box, CH-8092 Zurich, Switzerland
Andrea Leuenberger: Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, P.O. Box, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland
Priska Ammann: Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, P.O. Box, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland
Khátia Munguambe: Manhiça Health Research Centre, C.P. 1929 Maputo, Mozambique
Jürg Utzinger: Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, P.O. Box, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland
Eusébio Macete: Manhiça Health Research Centre, C.P. 1929 Maputo, Mozambique
Mirko S. Winkler: Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, P.O. Box, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 4, 1-24

Abstract: Artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) is an important livelihood activity in many low- and middle-income countries. It is widely acknowledged that there are a myriad of health risk and opportunities associated with ASM. However, little is known with regard to which aspects of health have been studied in ASM settings. We conducted a scoping review of peer-reviewed publications, using readily available electronic databases (i.e., PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science) from inception to 14 July 2020. Relevant information was synthesized with an emphasis on human and environmental exposures and health effects in a context of ASM. Our search yielded 2764 records. After systematic screening, 176 health studies from 38 countries were retained for final analysis. Most of the studies ( n = 155) focused on health in ASM extracting gold. While many of the studies included the collection of environmental and human samples ( n = 154), only few ( n = 30) investigated infectious diseases. Little attention was given to vulnerable groups, such as women of reproductive age and children. Our scoping review provides a detailed characterisation of health studies in ASM contexts. Future research in ASM settings should address health more comprehensively, including the potential spread of infectious diseases, and effects on mental health and well-being.

Keywords: artisanal and small-scale mining; health effects; health hazards; low- and middle-income countries; mercury; injuries and fatalities (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (8)

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