The use of mercury for
amalgamation has been an integral
part of the small-scale gold mining
industry in developing countries
owing to its low investment cost,
simplicity of the technique and high
gold recovery. However, its impact on
health and environmental hazards have
not been given the attention they
deserve. In spite of the growing
awareness and concerns over the
mercury pollution problem by regul-
atory authorities, precautionary
measures such as bans on the use of
mercury in some countries have been
largely ineffective.
This paper first reviews some
of the mechanisms of mercury poll-
ution, and mercury toxicity which
varies according to its oxidation
state. It then describes how mercury
released to the atmosphere would go
through the "Mercury Cycle". Compar-
isons have also been made with
previously measured mercury levels in
small scale Papua New Guinean miners
with their counterparts in other
developing countries.