Dear Editor,
The published findings of mercury in the bodies of Guyanese gold jewellers cause concern for their future health. Mercury is so clearly implicated in cancer, birth defects and other public health horrors that the liquid metal is banned from sale in many countries. Guyana is probably the only country where mercury is regularly offered in almost full-page ads in national newspapers.
But the question arises, how can jewellers be exposed to this substance, far away from mining and refining sites? Jewellers are supposed to buy the metal from GGMC, the only legal buyer from miners and its licensed dealers. Mercury present in a jewellery workshop has to come from imperfectly refined gold, or from amalgam illegally got from miners. Either the GGMC is selling impure gold, or there is a failure of law enforcement. Rule of law issues aside, there must be worry on public health grounds.
Yours faithfully,
Gustav Henderson
Editor’s note
A World Wildlife Fund study which we reported on in our April 26 edition said the levels of mercury among jewellers would most likely have been due to their exposure to mercury vapour during the melting of gold amalgam, and recommended they wore protective gear.
