Mercury exposure in galamsey areas: Pregnancy deaths, birth defects rise – Consultant Pathologist

A Consultant Pathologist at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), Prof. Paul Poku Sampene Ossei is rallying Ghanaians, especially chiefs and politicians to demonstrate commitment against illegal mining ( galamsey) to prevent increasing deaths and deformities in mining communities.

He said exposure to heavy metals pollution, especially mercury and lead is causing maternal and associated adverse birth outcomes in not only galamsey-prone areas but adjoining communities.

“Pregnant women are dying and newly born babies are having physical deformities,” he revealed.

Case Study

In an interview, Prof. Sampene who is also an Associate Professor at the Department of Pathology of the School of Medical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) said a case study he undertook in Dunkwa-on-Offin in the Central Region, the Bibiani Government Hospital in the Western Region, and the St. Martin’s Hospital at Agroyesum in the Ashanti Region revealed complications in pregnancies and child deformities, which were related to contact with mercury and lead used by illegal miners.

Prof. Sampene said the World Health Organisation (WHO) has standards for the use of heavy metals that should be compatible with life. However, in the case of Ghana, the law appears not to be working.

Inhalation of Chemicals

He said some of the cases he handled on deceased pregnant women revealed they inhaled the dangerous chemicals. “ We have to stand up against illegal mining. Our politicians, our chiefs have a big role to play in this,” he said.

Malfunctioning Children

The consultant pathologist said most of the malfunctioning children could not respond to senses. “The affected unborn babies could not respond to birth and the pregnant women died before they could get to the hospital. When I was called to remove the babies, I detected mercury in the placenta,” he said.

He said contact with heavy metals is also causing stillbirths and low birth weight. “If we do not take this disturbing issue seriously, there will be more deaths and child deformities,” he warned.

Prof. Sampene said many other residents including children are developing hypertension and kidney diseases
The consultant pathologist stated that the gastrointestinal tract of babies has a high affinity to mercury and lead.
“That is why in these galamsey areas are babies being born with defective eyes and other deformities. ”

Illegal Inputs

Prof. Sampene spoke against the selling of all manner of mining inputs labelled in the Chinese language. He said this cannot happen in any serious country, and therefore, urged the authorities to ensure that the right thing was done.

Amansie Area

Prof. Sampene described the Amansie area of the Ashanti Region as a galamsey-endemic area from where many patients report at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital with kidney and hypertension cases.