Mercury (Hg) and cyanide used in galamsey operations can poison the people through drinking water, fish and land food (CROPS) ingestion and THROUGH THE SKIN. Mercury accumulates more in fish of galamsey -poisoned waterbodies.
Ingested Hg can stay in the human tissues for 54 years ( ingested Hg has a half-life of 27.4 years in the human brain).
CHILDREN exposed to mercury are at risk of developing growth and developmental problems.
Both inorganic and organic forms can cause neurological problems. However, methyl mercury, which passes more easily into the brain is generally considered the more toxic species, particularly among children, who can experience IQ losses , delayed speech, and other neurodevelopmental deficits from exposure. Early life exposure can damage the whole brain (Sarpong, D. 2017)
Exposures later in life produce more localised damage to the brain (visual cortex, motor strip and Cerebellum)
In adults, t hese exposures can lead to: visuospacial (vision) problems, even blindness; effects on memory and mood; paralysis, incoordination, coma and death.
Generally, exposure to mercury can cause neurological damage ( memory loss, psychotic reactions), K IDNEY PROBLEMS, miscarriages, respiratory failure and even death (Sarpong, D 2017).
The inorganic form of mercury (mercury chloride and Elemental mercury) when ingested can cause coagulative necrosis (death) of the lining of the STOMACH AND INTESTINES and lead to profuse diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pains and death.
Cyanide poisoning from galamsey activities disables the cell’s mitochondria cytochrome a3 oxidase leading to deficit of ATP and energy . In the red blood cells, this leads primarily to blockage of transport of oxygen in the blood and its exchange to cells, resulting in respiratory failure (breathing arrest) and death.
Therefore, one can imagine the result of combined the effects of mercury and cyanide poisoning on the health of the citizenry through galamsey activities.
Dr. Alfred alawere@yahoo. com.
June 23, 2023
