Environmental and occupational health hazards associated with artisanal and small-scale gold mining

Overview

This document is part of a WHO technical series on artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) and health developed in response to World Health Assembly Resolution 67.11. It seeks to inform ministries of public health of roles they can play in supporting the implementation of ASGM related provisions of the Minamata Convention on Mercury.

The document reviews the literature on the environmental and occupational health hazards and adverse health outcomes associated with ASGM and gives particular attention to considerations for women and children. The document also examines training programmes, toolkits and guides that can be used by, or developed into a curriculum on occupational and environmental hazards associated with ASGM for a health-care audience.