Health Studies in the Context of Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining: A Scoping Review
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 studi...
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doaj-a27c8cdefc494b10a644835528e651c62021-02-07T00:02:35ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health1661-78271660-46012021-02-01181555155510.3390/ijerph18041555Health Studies in the Context of Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining: A Scoping ReviewHermínio Cossa0Rahel Scheidegger1Andrea Leuenberger2Priska Ammann3Khátia Munguambe4Jürg Utzinger5Eusébio Macete6Mirko S. Winkler7Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, P.O. Box, CH-4002 Basel, SwitzerlandSwiss Federal Institute of Technology, P.O. Box, CH-8092 Zurich, SwitzerlandSwiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, P.O. Box, CH-4002 Basel, SwitzerlandSwiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, P.O. Box, CH-4002 Basel, SwitzerlandManhiça Health Research Centre, C.P. 1929 Maputo, MozambiqueSwiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, P.O. Box, CH-4002 Basel, SwitzerlandManhiça Health Research Centre, C.P. 1929 Maputo, MozambiqueSwiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, P.O. Box, CH-4002 Basel, SwitzerlandArtisanal 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 (<i>n</i> = 155) focused on health in ASM extracting gold. While many of the studies included the collection of environmental and human samples (<i>n</i> = 154), only few (<i>n</i> = 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.https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/4/1555artisanal and small-scale mininghealth effectshealth hazardslow- and middle-income countriesmercuryinjuries and fatalities |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Hermínio Cossa Rahel Scheidegger Andrea Leuenberger Priska Ammann Khátia Munguambe Jürg Utzinger Eusébio Macete Mirko S. Winkler |
spellingShingle |
Hermínio Cossa Rahel Scheidegger Andrea Leuenberger Priska Ammann Khátia Munguambe Jürg Utzinger Eusébio Macete Mirko S. Winkler Health Studies in the Context of Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining: A Scoping Review International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health artisanal and small-scale mining health effects health hazards low- and middle-income countries mercury injuries and fatalities |
author_facet |
Hermínio Cossa Rahel Scheidegger Andrea Leuenberger Priska Ammann Khátia Munguambe Jürg Utzinger Eusébio Macete Mirko S. Winkler |
author_sort |
Hermínio Cossa |
title |
Health Studies in the Context of Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining: A Scoping Review |
title_short |
Health Studies in the Context of Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining: A Scoping Review |
title_full |
Health Studies in the Context of Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining: A Scoping Review |
title_fullStr |
Health Studies in the Context of Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining: A Scoping Review |
title_full_unstemmed |
Health Studies in the Context of Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining: A Scoping Review |
title_sort |
health studies in the context of artisanal and small-scale mining: a scoping review |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health |
issn |
1661-7827 1660-4601 |
publishDate |
2021-02-01 |
description |
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 (<i>n</i> = 155) focused on health in ASM extracting gold. While many of the studies included the collection of environmental and human samples (<i>n</i> = 154), only few (<i>n</i> = 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. |
topic |
artisanal and small-scale mining health effects health hazards low- and middle-income countries mercury injuries and fatalities |
url |
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/4/1555 |
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