Introduction:

Within the framework of the endeavor of the Sudanese Mineral Resources

Company represented by the General Administration for Environment, Safety
and Social Responsibility to develop the health, safety and environment system
in the mining sector, the administration worked according to its plan to contract
with the University of Khartoum Consulting Authority to conduct a study to
read the reality of the environment in the areas of traditional mining and some
companies to assess the reality of the environment Identifying environmental
pollutants and health problems for the muezzins. Establishing basic indicators to
measure and analyze pollution to ensure the stability of safe mining in the
country.
And As part of the implementation of the study plan, the commission
worked on measuring the reality of the environment in five states according to
the details of the contract signed with the company, which included (Nile River
- North- Gedaref - Red Sea - South Kordofan) and targeted 21 markets in the
shops of the different states. Visits were carried out to collect samples from the
states during the period From March 29 to May 7, 2018, with the participation
of the technical team from the authority and representatives from the Sudanese
company, it came as follows:

£ Market Time N E

1 Dar Maly 17°45.053"N 34°08.833"

2 River Nile Obaidiea 18°16.397" 34°00.816"
3 Sharek 18°48.410" 33°39.142"
4 Abohamad 19°36.613" 33°17.818"
5 Qaab 29 March – 19°27'27.09" 29°53'04.71"
6 Shada 5 April 20°08.389" 30°30.010"
7 Khanaq 2018 20°37.101" 30°16.851"
8 North Dalgo 20°10.776" 30°36.468"
9 Sawarda 20°30.746" 30°19.337"
10 Nemra 1 21°45.558" 31°26.874"
11 Daba 18°401.329" 30°51.560"
12 Khiari 15°17.219" 34°51.111"
13 Shower 15°46'325" 34°38'105"
14 Gadarief Wd bushara 12 April to 15°38'921" 34°13'157"
15 ٓMouk 20 April 19°32.224" 37°06.861"
16 Oshar Valley 2018 16°44.083" 36°03.734"
17 Red Sea Noraia 20°10.891" 34°50.272"
18 Togoala 10°36.165" 30°31.801"
19 Gardod 10°40.303'' 30°47.404''
20 Taiar 10°57.285'' 31°07.720''
21 South Hojairat 30 April to 11°20.672'' 29°40.825''
Kordoufan 5 May
2018
Collected Samples types:

1-Samples for the direct knowledge of contamination on human health,

including blood, urine and hair samples, were taken randomly and volunteered
from those who work in wolf ponds, extracting gold loan, as well as those who
burn mercury to obtain pure gold
2-Samples to know the pollution of the environment of the human being
working in the amendment area, including air, soil and waste
3- Samples that result in indirect metal contamination, such as vegetables,
drinking water, meat
4- A sample to find out the extent of the contamination of the animal located
near the areas of private mining, for example, these samples, and then the
kidney of the animal was taken from the areas of slaughter, which is an
indicator to know the degree of mercury accumulation in the long term

The number of blood, urine and hair samples collected varies between
different markets, based on the degree of response of donors from these
markets, according to it. Taking samples in every market where we explain the
damages resulting from the direct use of mercury in the event of non-
compliance with the use of appropriate safety tools.
In order not to coagulate, blood samples were collected in sample collection
tubes containing the anticoagulant heparin. Urine samples were collected in
sterile 50 ml containers. Hair samples were collected from the two metals in
small plastic bags and then closed.
Then, three samples of soil, represented by each market, were collected in
plastic bags, weighing a kilogram for each sample of gold waste tracks, in order
to know the degree of pollution to the environment, especially the soil outside
the markets, which in turn is reflected in the extent to which the trucks that
transport the ball to the factories conform to the required specifications. These
were analyzed Samples to determine the extent of contamination with toxic
elements such as arsenic, cadmium, chromium, thallium and sodium cyanide.
Six samples of mining residues were also collected from each market under
study in plastic bags approximately one kilogram for each sample, and the
remaining mercury was analyzed in them.
Samples Storage :
After taking the blood samples from the two minerals, they were kept in ice
containers until they reached the lab. Once they reached the lab, the
centrifugation process was used to obtain the serum, and then they were kept in
the refrigerator at 4 degrees Celsius in the central lab, Shambat complex, until
the analysis was done. Also in the refrigerator at a temperature of 4 degrees
Celsius until the analysis is carried out. As for the samples of vegetables, meat
and whole animals, then dried air inside the lab, they were placed at room
temperature until the analysis was conducted. Hair samples were also placed at
room temperature until the analysis was performed, and that was used.

Sample Preparation:
The process of preparing and analyzing samples was based on global
methods that depend on internationally known sources and references with high
efficiency in the accuracy of the results. The preparation of various samples of
blood, urine, hair, vegetables, meat and soil for the purpose of detecting and
focusing elemental mercury and other toxic elements was done in a lucky way,
where a 0.5 gram was taken from the sample . In the digestion vial, 1 ml of
distilled water was added to it, 2 ml of compound HNO3 -HCLO4, and 5 ml of
H2SO4 , then heated at a temperature of 230 ° C for 30 minutes, then cooled the
digested eye and then completed to The volume of 50 ml was added to the
distilled water, where it was analyzed to find out the concentration of mercury.
The process of preparing the various samples was carried out - at the Crops
Department Center - Faculty of Agriculture - University of Khartoum.

Sample Testing:
1-Then the samples were analyzed in the central laboratory, Shanbat complex,
to find out the concentration of elemental mercury and other toxic elements in
the soil mentioned previously in the collection of samples, paragraph 2, using
the Atomic Absorption AA 6800 device, equipped with a special and highly
efficient mercury Hydride Vapor Generator. It is worth mentioning that this unit
was then used for the first time. Only once since he brought it to the lab to read
where this project is, so it is considered highly sensitive in the accuracy of the
results.
 2-Other analyzes such as pH, EC, TSS, TDS were performed using a multi-
purpose pH-meter, and sodium cyanide was analyzed using a Spectrometer,
UV/Visble.
3-Other microbial analyzes of water samples were analyzed in the
microbiological laboratory, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Khartoum
4- Air pollution was detected using the Aeroqual gaseous air pollution detector,
as well as the Aerocet device for measuring particulate matter in the air, which
was brought to the Faculty of Chemical Engineering, University of Khartoum.
Readings were taken with the help of engineers from the Faculty of Chemical
Engineering, University of Khartoum.

Mercury Concentration from different tested samples by microgram/Kg & microgram/Kg (

water)

Allowable Gold A.
Bloo Wat Tailing Vegetabl Me
Limit Urine Hair Soil Orga
d er es at
n
State 5.8 4.6 6 0.001 0.03 0.5 0.5

Dar 2.10 64.28 277.73 0.00 462.26 33550. 0.00 72.4 0.00
Maly 62 5
River
Obaidie 3.38 1.88 558.94 1.45 5405.13 26079. 0.00 73.0 0.00
Nile 03 6
a
Sharek 42.05 7.66 581.09 22.86 1481.79 41318. 0.00 19.8 0.76
33 8

Aboha 7.65 6.57 2704.40 0.00 765.57 38804. 0.00 41.8 0.00
mad 83 8

Qaab 8.41 5.97 1055.29 0.00 15.22 4846.19 0.00 0.00 0.00

Shada 0.72 791.6 2217.81 1.56 0.00 67562. 0.00 5.24 5.36
North 5 32

Khanaq 4.02 24.63 949.83 1.26 1549.15 10259. 0.00 41.6 4.30
25 3
Dalgo 16.43 224.6 930.00 0.00 2605.67 8822.85 0.00 31.6 0.00
3 0

Sawarda 3.99 5.88 951.44 0.00 3605.74 11461. 0.00 24.4 0.00
65 8

Nemra 1 26.82 35.77 2819.81 1.48 81.22 6130.03 0.00 11.3 0.00
6
 Daba 34.87 69.39 1381.02 0.00 2455.73 9576.07 0.00 39.6 0.00
9

Khiari 2.99 24.00 270.29 0.00 4582.67 10719. 6.53 8.31 14.87
08

Shower 6.63 90.89 1136.89 1.63 3417.33 38374. 2.25 0.00 0.00
Gadarief 33

Wd 15.57 502.5 26.91 0.00 939.67 31309. 8.52 9.94 19.68

bushara 8 50

ٓMouk 10.52 11.41 357.05 0.00 212.96 24605. 2.59 23.5 0.00
Red Sea 67 5

Oshar 26.83 92.10 428.11 1.24 4476.50 15205. 4.03 4.46 0.00
Valley 50

Noraia 50.28 57.40 979.01 0.00 326.66 31314. 6.47 22.7 0.00
00 9
South Togoala 7.33 177.6 1418.93 0.71 1290.20 6734.83 5.89 12.4 0.00
Kordouf 4 9

an Gardod 3.07 10.72 363.59 7.23 126.05 2881.73 7.46 2.66 6.71

Taiar 6.87 59.70 10915. 20.98 21328. 17514. 17.85 2.38 0.00
95 00 67

Hojairat 39.43 10.20 746.52 2.09 3394.47 15151. 6.59 0.00 0.00
50

Blood
60

50

40

30

20

10

0
 Urine
1000
800
600
400
200
0

Hair
12000
10000
8000
6000
4000
2000
0

Water
25
20
15
10
5
0

Soil
25000
20000
15000
10000
5000
0
 Gold Tailing
80000
60000
40000
20000
0

Vegetables
20
15
10
5
0

Meat
80
60
40
20
0
 A. Organ
25
20
15
10
5
0

Not Contaminated Contaminated – under range Contaminated – over range

Mercury concentration average in Blood - microgram/kg(ppb) – acceptable range 5.8

microgram/kg

Concentration Market
50.28 Nouraia
42.05 Abohamad
39.43 Hojairat
34.87 Dapa
26.83 Oshar Valley
26.82 Nemra 1
16.43 Dalgo
15.57 Shower
10.52 Moak
8.41 Gaab
7.65 Sharek
7.33 Tagola
6.87 Taiar
6.63 Khiari
4.02 Khanag
3.99 Sawarda
3.38 Obidea
3.07 Gardod
2.99 Wad bushara
2.1 Dar Mally
0.72 Shada

Mercury concentration average in Urine - microgram/kg(ppb) – acceptable range 4.6

microgram/kg
 Concentration Market
791.65 Shada
502.58 Shower
224.63 Dalgo
177.64 Tagola
92.1 ‫وادي العشار‬
90.89 Khiari
69.39 Dapa
64.28 Dar Mally
59.7 Taiar
57.4 Nouraia
35.77 Nemra 1
24.63 Khanag
24 ‫تشارهود‬
11.41 Moak
10.72 Gardod
10.2 Hojairat
7.66 Abohamad
6.57 Sharek
5.97 Gaab
5.88 Sawarda
1.88 Obidea

Mercury concentration average on Hair - microgram/kg(ppb) – acceptable range 6 microgram/kg

Concentration Market
10915.95 Taiar
2819.81 Nemra 1
2704.4 Sharek
2217.81 Shada
1418.93 Tagola
1381.02 Dapa
1136.89 Khiari
1055.29 Gaab
979.01 Nouraia
951.44 Sawarda
949.83 Khanag
930 Dalgo
746.52 Hojairat
581.09 Abohamad
558.94 Obidea
428.11 Oshar Valley
363.59 Gardod
357.05 Moak
277.73 Dar Mally
 270.29 ‫ارهود تش‬
26.91 Shower

Mercury concentration average in Water - microgram/kg(ppb) – acceptable range 0.001

microgram/kg

Concentration Market
22.86 Abohamad
20.98 Taiar
7.23 Gardod
2.09 Hojairat
1.63 Khiari
1.56 Shada
1.48 Nemra 1
1.45 Obidea
1.26 Khanag
1.24 Oshar Valley
0.71 Tagola
0 Dar Mally
0 Sharek
0 Gaab
0 Dalgo
0 Sawarda
0 Dapa
0 ‫تشارهود‬
0 Shower
0 Moak
0 Nouraia

Mercury concentration average on Vegetables - microgram/kg(ppb) – acceptable range 0.03

microgram/kg

Concentration Market
17.85 Taiar
8.52 Shower
7.46 Gardod
6.59 Hojairat
6.53 ‫ود تشاره‬
6.47 Nouraia
5.89 Tagola
4.03 Oshar Valley
2.59 Moak
2.25 Khiari
0 Dar Mally
0 Obidea
 0 Abohamad
0 Sharek
0 Gaab
0 Shada
0 Khanag
0 Dalgo
0 Sawarda
0 Nemra 1
0 Dapa

Mercury concentration average in Meat - microgram/kg(ppb) – acceptable range 0.05

microgram/kg

Concentration Market
73.06 Obidea
72.45 Dar Mally
41.88 Sharek
41.63 Khanag
39.69 Dapa
31.6 Dalgo
24.48 Sawarda
23.55 Moak
22.79 Nouraia
19.88 Abohamad
12.49 Tagola
11.36 Nemra 1
9.94 Shower
8.31 ‫ود تشري‬
5.24 Shada
4.46 Oshar Valley
2.66 Gardod
2.38 Taiar
0 Gaab
0 Khiari
0 Hojairat

Mercury concentration average in animals kidneys - microgram/kg(ppb) – acceptable range 0.05

microgram/kg

Concentration Market
19.68 Shower
14.87 Wad bushara
6.71 Gardod
 5.36 Shada
4.3 Khanag
0.76 Abohamad
0 Dar Mally
0 Obidea
0 Sharek
0 Gaab
0 Dalgo
0 Sawarda
0 Nemra 1
0 Dapa
0 Khiari
0 Moak
0 Oshar Valley
0 Nouraia
0 Tagola
0 Taiar
0 Hojairat

Results and general indicators of mercury analysis:

1- The results of the study showed the presence of varying concentrations of

elemental mercury in blood, urine and hair samples that were taken randomly
from the miners from all markets, where we find that there are some samples
that recorded very high concentrations compared to the permissible limits
globally and others are average, and there are samples that have not detected
elemental mercury.

2-The highest concentration of elemental mercury is concentrated in hair

samples, followed by urine samples and finally blood samples in most markets.
This characteristic is the accumulation of mercury with hair protein over time.

3-The presence of high levels of elemental mercury in the blood, urine or hair of
the miners may also be exposed to pollution for long periods. The longer the
period of the metal steering wheel in the market, the higher the degree or
percentage of pollution, especially for those who work in basins as well as those
who work directly burning mercury for the purpose of purification

4-The results of the study showed the presence of high percentages of a

comparative element within the internationally permissible limits for some
water samples that were taken from the markets of Abu Hamad al-Ubaidiya in
the air asphyxiated by the passing of Wahid al-Khayari. There, I determined that
one of them was then taken from the Manasir Canal in the Abu Hamad area, and
another from Hafir near Souq and Al-Bishrah, but the results did not show any
mercury contamination with them.

5- The results show that the samples of soil that were invaded from the tracks in
all the markets were performed by the Jeddah market and most of the samples
from the market of one tiger are contaminated with elemental mercury and some
of them are at very high rates more than what is allowed globally, which
indicates that most of the means of transport used to transport wastes from the
markets do not conform to the specifications and therefore it must be returned

6-All samples of gold residues in all markets were found in very high
concentrations of elemental mercury, which indicates that gold residues are the
first and main source of pollution.

7-The results of any vegetable samples collected from the markets of Gedaref,
the Red Sea and South Kordofan states showed varying percentages of mercury
concentrations, some of them jurisprudence the internationally recommended
limits in the news in many additions, which indicates that the condition of the
vegetable markets in these markets is improper, which exposes them to direct
contamination with the element Mercury

8-High concentrations of mercury were responded to in most meat samples

collected from the markets, due to its presence in the open without glass
barriers, which increases the possibility of exposure to pollution. It is also
scientifically known that mercury resulting from fire operations tends to wet
places and this is available on meat offered for sale

9- The results showed that the samples of the animal’s kidneys, which were
taken from the markets of Abu Hamad, severely strangled, and Al-Bishrah
Shawar Al-Qardoud have varying concentrations, and some of them are very
high in elemental mercury, which indicates that the animals in the mining
environment are also susceptible to contamination with elemental mercury.

Recommendations :

1-Establishing controls for the use of mercury and restriction from

environmental requirements in accordance with the terms of reference in the
process of extracting metals and following globally agreed scientific methods in
the use of chemicals
2-The importance of activating the laws related to the civil amendment in
preserving the environment

3-Preventing the indiscriminate use of mercury in traditional mining

4-Develop a plan to stop the use of mercury used in traditional mining and find
alternative solutions

5-Spreading environmental awareness among muezzins of the dangers of

misuse of mercury