Small-scale gold mining in Myanmar

对缅甸的小型矿区进行了调查。本研究的采样和调查区域为孟邦的Kyaikhto，勃固地区的Shwekyin，实皆地区的Kalaymyo附近，以及曼德勒和实皆地区的伊洛瓦底江中游。采集了水、矿工的头发和沙子的样本。缅甸有各种小规模的金矿开采方式，所有的矿工都使用汞来获取黄金。在河水样本中检测到高浓度的汞，矿工及其家属的头发受到高达60 ppm的高浓度汞污染。从一名4岁儿童的头发中检测出超过35ppm的高浓度汞。缅甸的汞污染不容乐观。

Small-scale mining area in Myanmar was investigated. Sampling and investigation areas of this study are Kyaikhto in Mon state, Shwekyin in Bago region, near Kalaymyo in Sagaing region, and the middle reaches of the Ayeyarwaddy river in Mandalay and Sagaing region. Water, hairs of miners, and sands were sampled. A variety of small-scale gold mining styles are in Myanmar and all miners use mercury to obtain gold. Significantly high concentrations of mercury were detected for river water samples and hairs of miners and their families were contaminated with high concentrations of mercury up to 60 ppm. High concentration of mercury over 35 ppm was detected from 4-years old chid's hair. The mercury pollution in Myanmar do not warrant optimism.