ENVIRONMENTAL AND HEALTH IMPACTS OF ILLEGAL GOLD MINING IN THE BOUAFLE DEPARTMENT (IVORY COAST)

The Bouafle departement is one of the areas richest in gold deposits in Cote dIvoire. Its natural resources have long been the subject of artisanal mining. Today, given the high mineralization of its subsoil, the department attracts people from all walks of life who engage in illegal mining: clandestine gold panningù. This is carried out in a haphazard manner, with rudimentary equipment, and involves the use of chemicals such as mercury and its derivatives. Illegal gold mining discharges various types of waste into the environment without any treatment. This causes severe degradation of the natural and human environment through water and soil pollution from chemicals and the resulting unsanitary conditions. This dire situation may be the cause of the serious Heath problems observed within the mining community. The objective of this study is to determine the health impacts of illegal gold mining on those involved. The methodology used for data collection relied on literature review, field surveys, and observation. Our investigations reveal that most of the small-scale gold miners and non-mining résidents surveyed suffer from numerous health conditions linked to the chemical pollution of surface water, the unsanitary conditions of their living environment, and, above all, their working conditions in artisanal mines. The findings highlight the health risks and illnesses associated with illegal gold mining in the Bouafle department.