Publications by authors named "Matthew E Moore"
Article Synopsis
- Elemental mercury (Hg) contamination is common in artisanal and small-scale gold mining communities, where contaminated tailings are reprocessed using cyanide (CN) to extract leftover gold.
- Hg reacts with CN to form stable complexes like Hg(CN), which become more soluble and dispersed in agitated conditions, potentially increasing their toxicity.
- Research on adult rats shows that Hg(CN) accumulates mainly in the kidneys, with possible damage at low concentrations, but little accumulation occurs in the brain, indicating these complexes might not pass the blood-brain barrier.
Ratification of the Minamata Convention on Mercury has led to the establishment of Peruvian regulations limiting mercury concentrations in air to 2000 ng/mover a 24-hr measurement period. As a result, three communities in Madre de Dios, Peru were mapped during October 2017 to determine Hg vapor concentrations in the air. The town of Tres Islas exhibited Hg concentrations less than 200 ng/m: the minimum risk level defined by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.
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