The Exploitation of Children in Gold Mining
“The use of children in artisanal gold mining is widespread; the ILO and the US Department of Labour have determined that this worst form of child labour occurs in 26 countries across Africa, Asia and South America. The most frequently used estimation is that around one million children work in gold mining worldwide. However, the actual number is probably much higher, and the ILO expects the figure is increasing, in sync with the ongoing growth of artisanal gold mining. Recent observations at mining sites in Burkina Faso indicate that between 30% and 50% of the labour force in gold mining were children.”
“These children are sent to mining sites by their families for economic reasons. In Mali, girls generally start from the age of 8 washing the ore, while boys start later, at around 12 years of age. The tasks assigned to the youngest workers include transporting and processing ore (including pulling up and washing the ore); transporting it on their heads or backs, only occasionally in wheelbarrows or pushcarts; crushing, grinding, pounding and sifting the ore and gold panning; fetching water; looking after the babies on the site; preparing and selling meals and food.”
Environmental and Human Health Impacts
“Children participate i n the manual sorting and picking of recyclable, reusable materials from mixed was tested. Working as a waste picker is considered one of the worst forms of child labour. In addition, children are involved in burning discarded electronics and in manually dismantling them into component parts .
In developing countries children can serve as a source of cheap labour: their small hands give them an advantage in dismantling products . Informal recycling practices expose workers to high levels of toxicants from spending time in landfills or through the poor ventilation in indoor facilities , even home-based activities. Dismantling and burning e-waste can result in toxic airborne particles and fumes inhalation, direct skin exposure to corrosive agents , ingestion, or burns .
Even when children are not involved in child labour, they may be exposed to pollutants at home, where e-waste recovery and recycling often takes place. Home based and family-run recycling using primitive procedures such as open cable burning, acid baths, and “cooking” circuit boards puts children at risk of both injury and exposure in their own home or backyard. Parents who engage in e-waste recycling work outside the home (especially ‘‘acid baths’’ and ‘‘burning to recover metal residues’’ works) may also take lead contaminated dusts home and increase the chances of lead exposure to children.
Regardless of their own occupations or parents’ occupations, children who live near recycling sites are exposed to e-waste hazards throughout the environment. Rudimentary recycling techniques , coupled with the amounts of e-waste processed, result in adverse environmental and human health impacts , including air, soil and surface water contamination. Children play outdoors and sometimes in landfills, making them particularly vulnerable to environmental contamination. E-waste materials are not only a source of environmental contamination but may also pose significant human health risks if improperly managed.”
World Health Organization - "Electrical/Electronic Waste and Children's Health"
Blood Lead Contamination in Children
“In conclusion, elevated Blood Lead Levels (BLLs) in Guiyu children are common as a result of exposure to lead contamination caused by primitive e-waste recycling activities. Lead contamination from e-waste processing appears to have reached the level considered to be a serious threat to children’s health around the e-waste recycling area. Based on these threats, it is necessary to increase public awareness about the effects of exposure to lead from e-waste and arouse local governments’ interest in public health and safety, so that an infrastructure for safe management of e-waste can be established. More important, responsible management strategies should be undertaken to minimize e-waste production and make e-waste components more easily recycled and reused.”