ArticlePloS one2018
Variation in thyroid hormone levels is associated with elevated blood mercury levels among artisanal small-scale miners in Ghana.
Article in PloS one, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 11 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
11 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 32 citations in OpenAlex.
- Mercury Exposure and Its Health Effects in Workers in the Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining (ASGM) Sector-A Systematic Review.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2022Pooled it
- Effects of Trace Elements on Endocrine Function and Pathogenesis of Thyroid Diseases-A Literature Review.Nutrients · 2025Review
- Association between toxic heavy metals and noncancerous thyroid disease: a scoping review.PeerJ · 2025Article
- Levels and trends of metals in human populations living in the Arctic.International journal of circumpolar health · 2024Review
- Mercury (Hg) use and pollution assessment of ASGM in Ghana: challenges and strategies towards Hg reduction.Environmental science and pollution research international · 2021Review
- Environmental Factors Affecting Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone and Thyroid Hormone Levels.International journal of molecular sciences · 2021Review
- Cumulative Effect and Content Variation of Toxic Trace Elements in Human Hair around Xiaoqinling Gold Mining Area, Northwestern China.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2021Article
- Evaluation of the effects of chronic occupational exposure to metallic mercury on the thyroid parenchyma and hormonal function.International archives of occupational and environmental health · 2020Article
- Thyroid dysfunction: how concentration of toxic and essential elements contribute to risk of hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, and thyroid cancer.Environmental science and pollution research international · 2019Article
- Association of exposure to multiple metals with papillary thyroid cancer risk in China.Environmental science and pollution research international · 2019Article
- The Clinical Importance of the Mercury Problem in Artisanal Small-Scale Gold Mining.Frontiers in public health · 2019Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
3 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundMercury can be very toxic to human health even at low dose of exposure. Artisanal small-scale miners (ASGMs) use mercury in gold production, hence are at risk of mercury-induced organ dysfunction.
aimWe determined the association between mercury exposure, thyroid function and work-related factors among artisanal small-scale gold miners in Bibiani- Ghana.
methodWe conveniently recruited 137 consenting male gold miners at their work site in Bibiani-Ghana, in a comparative cross-sectional study. Occupational activities and socio-demographic data of participants were collected using a questionnaire. Blood sample was analysed for total mercury and thyroid hormones.
resultsOverall, 58.4% (80/137) of the participants had blood mercury exceeding the occupational exposure threshold (blood mercury ≥5μg/L). T3(P<0.0001) and T4(P<0.0001) were significantly reduced among the exposed group compared to the non-exposed. TSH showed no significant variation between the exposed and non-exposed groups. Longer work duration (≥5years), gold amalgamation, gold smelting and sucking of excess mercury with the mouth were associated with increased odds of mercury exposure. Blood mercury showed negative correlation with T3(r = -0.29, P<0.0001), and T4(r = -0.69, P<0.0001) and positive correlation with work duration (r = 0.88, P<0.001). Even though a positive trend of association between blood mercury and TSH levels was recorded, it was not significant (r = 0.07, P = 0.4121).
conclusionSmall scale miners in Bibiani are exposed to mercury above the occupational threshold which may affect thyroid hormone levels.
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Registered trials
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