EU-funded study finds heavy metal contamination in Savannah mining communities
An EU-funded study found high levels of heavy metals in soil samples from small-scale mining communities in three districts of the Savannah Region. Cadmium levels exceeded guidelines in every sample collected. Mercury concentrations were above recommended limits in about 94 percent of the samples. The research indicates significant gaps in oversight and regulation. Only 2.92 percent of respondents held mining licenses, while approximately 74 percent did not.
An EU-funded study has found elevated levels of heavy metals in soil samples from artisanal and small-scale mining communities in three districts of the Savannah Region, raising concerns about environmental contamination and potential health risks. The baseline studies, conducted under the European Union-funded Gold for Good (G4G) Project, found that cadmium levels exceeded recommended guidelines in all soil samples collected, while mercury concentrations were above recommended limits in about 94 per cent of the samples. The findings also point to significant gaps in mining regulation and oversight, with only 2.92 per cent of respondents holding mining licences and approximately 74 per cent unaware of the regulations governing mining activities in their communities.