Mercury-related health conditions of GGMC workers at crisis stage

Mar 17, 2018 News

– Tests show many in “danger zone”

GGMC Commissioner, Newell Dennison

By Abena Rockcliffe-Campbell
It may have already contributed to loss of life, but the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) appears unwilling to remove the lab in its compound where burning of the amalgam is done. Workers are now worried that the very simple act of trying to earn a living may cost them their lives…or good health at the very least.
Earlier this week, Kaieteur News reported the recent discovery that workers in the compound that houses GGMC, Guyana Gold Board and the Ministry of Natural Resources, have been exposed to mercury emissions, and mercury levels detected in the blood exceed amounts that are considered safe.
The Gold Board has a facility at GGMC where burning of the amalgam is done. This is basically a process where the gold is burnt to get rid of the mercury that is used for mining.
Of course, quantities of mercury escape during this process.
A few years ago, GGMC sourced equipment to test the air in order to determine the levels of mercury emission in the compound as well as minimize the levels of emissions, so that it would not be a threat to the persons in the compound. Weekly tests used to be done. However, the equipment was down for some time. The process recently resumed, and management decided to test staffers after it was found that the air in some sections of the compound was highly contaminated. Initial reports were that there was no immediate danger.
However, workers have subsequently approached this newspaper detailing the severity of the situation.
Kaieteur News understands that there might have been at least one death associated with the inhalation of mercury emissions.
Staffers said that last January, a carpenter attached to GGMC died of kidney failure. That complication is believed to have been associated with high exposure to mercury. “He was a fairly young man; he worked for years at the carpentry workshop which is close to the lab where the burning is done.”
Staffers said that for over six years no testing of workers has been done, “so the man might have had high levels of mercury in his blood but never knew.”
Kaieteur News also learnt that only about five of the 55 workers recently tested were found to have safe levels of mercury in the blood.
The industrial nurse attached to GGMC told the workers that 0-6 microgram per litre (mcg/l) is safe; 7-10 mcg/l is high, and anything more than 11 mcg/l would be considered dangerous.
However, the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) has advised workers that they consider 3mcg/l and above to be worthy of medical attention.
Hardly any of the workers who were tested were found to have under 2mcg/l. While most workers fell in the range of 6 to 12, alarmingly some persons are as high as 21.
NIS has told the workers that they will treat the issue as an industrial accident in terms of exposure and negligence.

NO VALUE
Workers say that they feel as if little or no value is being placed on their health and well being.
They said that GGMC Commissioner, Newell Dennison recently held a meeting with all persons who had high readings.
They claimed that Dennison “rambled and gave no clear direction forward”. “He told us all sorts of nonsense. He went round and round. We asked about moving the lab out of that area and he said that that avenue is not currently being explored.”
Workers also claimed that Dennison told them to treat themselves with milk and vitamins.
“He told us that the people over at Gold Board usually send their workers to get tested and if the reading is high they get two weeks’ leave. While they are on leave they use lots of milk and vitamins and that seems to cure the problem. That is utter nonsense. And listen to the biggest absurdity, after they use the milk and vitamins they go back to that the same area.”
Kaieteur News understands that one of the persons in the meeting told Dennison that that does not sound logical.
“One of the managers told him that she uses milk and vitamins every day, so if that was a cure she should not have had high readings in the first place.”

NO TREATMENT AVAILABLE IN GUYANA
Workers said that they were told that there is no treatment available in Guyana.
“We have a diversified staff; we have young men who are at the risk of becoming impotent by inhaling all this mercury, and we have pregnant women whose children can be affected. Luckily the pregnant girl was among the few with low readings. However, we have a young lady with sickle cell, her reading was high,” said one worker.
When Commissioner Dennison was contacted earlier this week, he had asserted that the matter was being treated and that he was trying to help all affected workers. He also downplayed the severity of the situation based on the readings, and said that it is an issue that needs to be monitored continuously.
Dennison said that indeed tests have proven that some persons have more than regular amounts of mercury in their blood. He said that the Commission has taken a responsible approach to the matter, and is seeking to ensure that all affected persons are fully taken care of.
“Those persons who have been found to be exposed at GGMC are being taken care of. I am working with our industrial nurse to determine how we can afford them the proper and necessary evaluation and, if necessary, treatment.
If mercury vapour is inhaled, it is easily absorbed by the body, where it first gets into the lungs then into the blood and the brain. The nerve poison can cause sleep disorders, agitation, and paralysis. Effects of sustained exposures to high levels of mercury emissions include disturbances in vision, hearing and speech, numbness in fingers and toes and lack of coordination and muscle weakness. Mercury also proves to cause a serious health risk to unborn children whose mothers have been too exposed.