A new environmental study has revealed widespread contamination from mercury, arsenic, lead, and other heavy metals across Ghana’s artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) regions, raising serious public health and environmental concerns.
The year-long study titled, Mercury and Other Heavy Metals Impact Assessment, conducted from August 2024 to September 2025 by Pure Earth in collaboration with the Ghana Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), examined soil, water, air, fish, and food crops in six regions: Ashanti, Eastern, Central, Western, Western North, and Savannah.
Mercury Pollution Off the Charts:
In Konongo Zongo (Ashanti Region), mercury levels in soil reached 1,342 ppm, over 130 times the safe limit. Airborne mercury at Wassa Kayianko (Western Region) peaked at 150 μg/m³, 150 times above Ghana’s permissible level.
Arsenic Contamination Widespread:
Dangerous arsenic levels were found in nearly all regions. Soil in Konongo Zongo recorded 10,060 ppm, 4000% above safe levels, while water in Konongo Odumase showed concentrations of 3.3 mg/L, vastly exceeding drinking water standards.
Lead in Food and Fish:
Lead concentrations in fish from Akwaboso (Central Region) and Konongo Zongo surpassed WHO safety limits, with some samples reaching 2.8 mg/kg. Vegetables such as pumpkin leaves in the Western North also showed lead levels as high as 3.1 mg/kg.
Crops Contaminated Across Regions:
Mercury, arsenic, and lead were detected in kontomire, tomatoes, cereals, legumes, and tubers, with some values well above international food safety thresholds.
Water Sources Polluted:
Several boreholes and streams used for drinking water were contaminated, with lead and arsenic levels exceeding WHO guidelines, posing a direct risk to community health.
Public Health at Risk
The study warns that residents, especially in mining communities, face chronic exposure through multiple routes — inhalation, ingestion, and skin contact — with potential long-term effects on the nervous system, kidneys, and child development.
Recommendations
The researchers propose urgent multi-sectoral action, including:
Remediation pilots in hotspots like Konongo Zongo using low-cost technologies such as phytoremediation.
Air and water monitoring expansion, particularly during dry and wet seasons.
Community health education through culturally relevant campaigns.
Stronger policy alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Establishing regional environmental intelligence units with mobile labs.
Formation of a National ASGM Environmental Response Task Force.
