Health Issues in Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining: Training for Health Professionals

This document provides a training guide for health professionals working with artisanal and small-scale gold mining communities, supporting national action planning under the Minamata Convention on Mercury. It explains common extraction and processing steps, highlights elemental mercury use in amalgamation and heating, and describes direct, indirect, and dietary exposure, including possible transformation to methylmercury under specific aquatic conditions. It summarizes absorption routes, target organs, and acute and chronic effects, and outlines clinical assessment, medical history, and use of radiography for dust-related disease such as silicosis and tuberculosis. It presents practical measures to reduce dust and mercury exposure, describes roles for prevention and health surveillance, and includes annexes on basic neuropsychological tests and core toxicology concepts.