Reduction or possible elimination of Hg from artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) is one of the main goals of the Minamata Convention on Mercury, which has been signed by many countries involved in ASGM, including Ghana. This article provides a recent overview of ASGM gold production and Hg use in Ghana. In addition, in order to highlight the impacts of Hg use in Ghana, a review was conducted on research studies investigating Hg pollution in waterbodies, soils, fish, and humans caused by ASGM over the past two decades. The continued use of Hg in Ghana's growing ASGM sector has resulted in reportedly high Hg levels found in water, sediments, crops, and miners, which exceed international guidelines. A subsequent ASGM ban and increased monitoring of illegal mining activities in Ghana have not ultimately been successful at significantly reducing Hg use and its associated impacts caused by rampant use in the country. Moreover, Hg alternatives in the ASGM sector are limited in Ghana, with little funding, support, education, and training in place to promote their implementation. As gold produced by ASGM continues to increase annually, clear policy reforms targeting Hg use are vitally needed, as well as efficient strategies to remediate Hg-contaminated areas.

中文翻译：

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加纳手工和小规模采金的汞（Hg）使用和污染评估：减少汞的挑战和策略。

减少或可能消除手工和小规模采金业 (ASGM) 中的汞是《水俣汞公约》的主要目标之一，该公约已由包括加纳在内的许多参与 ASGM 的国家签署。本文概述了加纳的 ASGM 黄金生产和汞使用情况。此外，为了突出加纳使用汞的影响，对过去二十年由手工和小规模采金造成的水体、土壤、鱼类和人类汞污染的研究进行了审查。加纳不断发展的 ASGM 部门继续使用汞，导致据报道在水、沉积物、作物和矿工中发现的汞含量高，超过了国际准则。随后的 ASGM 禁令和加强对加纳非法采矿活动的监控最终未能成功显着减少汞的使用及其在该国猖獗使用造成的相关影响。此外，加纳手工和小规模采金行业的汞替代品有限，几乎没有资金、支持、教育和培训来促进其实施。随着手工和小规模采金生产的黄金逐年增加，迫切需要针对汞使用的明确政策改革，以及修复汞污染地区的有效战略。