Grace Armstrong, a USGS chemist, traveled to Ghana to assess baseline mercury levels in the context of illegal gold mining. Her work involved collaboration with local scientists to understand mercury exposure pathways in two major rivers. The initiative aims to establish data for future monitoring and aligns with global efforts to mitigate mercury contamination through the Minamata Convention.
Grace Armstrong, a chemist at the USGS Mercury Research Laboratory, participated as an Embassy Science Fellow in Accra, Ghana. Her input involved sharing mercury sampling and analysis techniques with local scientists, especially focusing on the impacts of illegal artisanal-scale gold mining (ASGM) on mercury concentrations. The initiative followed the U.S. Embassy’s request for a baseline assessment of mercury levels in Western Ghana due to environmental health concerns.
In October 2024, Armstrong traveled to Ghana through joint funding from the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Geological Survey’s Ecosystem Mission Area. Her goal was to gather data on mercury exposure pathways in two significant rivers, the Ankobra and Pra, in collaboration with local scientists and stakeholders, thus promoting knowledge transfer about mercury sampling and remediation.
Mercury is a recognized neurotoxin that can seriously affect human and wildlife health through fish consumption contaminated by mercury. In ASGM practices, mercury is used in gold extraction, and heating the amalgam releases mercury into the atmosphere. This contaminant can then deposit in surrounding environments, leading to bioaccumulation in the food web, which raises public health concerns regarding fish consumption.
During her two-week visit, Armstrong engaged with various local partners, including academic institutions and governmental organizations, to foster collaboration on mercury research. Meetings with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research-Water Research Institute and others allowed for discussions on method performance evaluation and future partnerships revolving around mercury concentration data.
Samples were collected based on a One Health approach, aiming to enhance the health of humans, animals, and ecosystems. Focus was placed on human exposure pathways through environmental surface water, drinking water, fish, sediments, and key crops like cocoa and cassava. This fieldwork, conducted in partnership with Hen Mpoano, provided valuable baseline data for Ghana’s government for informed monitoring and management efforts.
This work addresses regional mercury concerns while aligning with global initiatives like the Minamata Convention on Mercury, which aims to mitigate mercury releases from ASGM. The far-reaching impacts of mercury emissions are critical as they affect protected lands globally. Armstrong’s experience contributed both to local expertise and an understanding of mercury’s environmental impact.
Armstrong’s work in Western Ghana emphasized the significance of assessing mercury levels influenced by illegal gold mining. The collaboration with local scientists helped in gathering crucial baseline data, promoting future monitoring efforts. This initiative not only aimed to address health concerns locally but also linked to global strategies to mitigate mercury’s environmental impact, enhancing knowledge-sharing and sustainability initiatives.
Original Source: www.usgs.gov
