Control measures and regulatory gaps in managing solid aerosol exposure in Ghana’s gold mining sector

Solid aerosol emissions in Ghana’s gold mining sector pose significant occupational and environmental health risks. This review critically examines the major sources of solid aerosol generation, including drilling, blasting, crushing, smelting, and incidental activities such as welding and laboratory assays. It categorizes solid aerosols into types, including crystalline silica, metal fumes, diesel particulate matter, and sulfates, and discusses associated health impacts such as silicosis, cancer, and chronic respiratory diseases. Identified exposure risk groups include underground and surface miners, crusher and grinder operators, gold room operators, and other ancillary workers, such as welders and fire assay workers. The article evaluates current mitigation strategies, focusing on engineering controls (e.g., ventilation, water suppression), administrative interventions (e.g., training, standard operating procedures), and personal protective equipment. Despite regulatory instruments, such as Ghana’s Minerals and Mining (Health, Safety and Technical) Regulations (L.I. 2182) and Environmental Protection Authority guidelines, enforcement remains inconsistent, and critical gaps persist, such as the absence of specific occupational exposure limits and a lack of risk profiles for similar exposure groups in the gold mining industry in Ghana. This article advocates for a multitiered response, including regulatory reforms, regulatory exposure monitoring, capacity building for inspectors and mine professionals, and adoption of safer standards and protocols. These measures are vital for minimizing health risks, improving compliance, and ensuring the sustainability of gold mining operations in Ghana and other resource-rich developing nations, with a focus on employee health and wellbeing.