@article{fdi:010071444,
  title = {{E}ffect of recent artisanal small-scale gold mining on the contamination of surface river sediment : case of {G}ambia {R}iver, {K}edougou region, southeastern {S}enegal},
  author = {{N}iane, {B}. and {M}oritz, {R}. and {G}u{\'e}dron, {S}t{\'e}phane and {N}gom, {P}. {M}. and {P}feifer, {H}. {R}. and {M}all, {I}. and {P}ote, {J}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{W}e report here the first inventory of mercury ({H}g) contamination in the region of {K}edougou, {S}enegal, where mercury ({H}g) is used for gold amalgamation in artisanal small-scale gold mining ({ASGM}) activities. {S}ediment cores were sampled during the dry and wet seasons, and at different locations along the {G}ambia {R}iver in the {K}edougou region to evaluate the spatio-temporal trends of {H}g distribution related to {ASGM} activities. {T}he sediment samples were analysed for total mercury and trace element concentrations ({C}r, {C}u, {Z}n, {P}b, {A}s, and {S}c). {T}he results highlight high concentrations of total {H}g (reaching up to 9.9 mg kg(-1)) in sediment cores sampled in the vicinity of {ASGM} operations, with the highest values reported for the dry season. {T}he calculation of the {H}g {E}nrichment {F}actor ({EF}) using {S}c as refractory element confirms high enrichments around active sites of gold mining being proportional to the density of miners and the duration of mining activities. {T}he {H}g spatial distribution reveals a very local contamination and a limited downstream dispersion of the contaminant. {T}he high {H}g concentrations obtained at {ASGM} sites largely exceed the {S}ediment {Q}uality {G}uidelines ({SQG}s) and the {P}robable effect concentration ({PEC}) for the {P}rotection of {A}quatic {L}ife recommendation. {O}ur results demonstrate that the {ASGM} activities discharged large amounts of {H}g into the {G}ambia {R}iver ecosystem and that the accumulation of {H}g in sediments may represent a significant human health risk and a potential source of toxicity for aquatic organisms.},
  keywords = {{M}ercury contamination ; {A}rtisanal small-scale gold mining ; {G}ambia {R}iver ; {H}uman health risk ; {SENEGAL} ; {GAMBIE} {COURS} {D}'{EAU}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{J}ournal of {G}eochemical {E}xploration},
  volume = {144},
  numero = {{SI}},
  pages = {517--527},
  ISSN = {0375-6742},
  year = {2014},
  DOI = {10.1016/j.gexplo.2014.03.028},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010071444},
}