Key points are not available for this paper at this time.
Abstract Introduction Small-scale gold mining is a big mercury polluter worldwide and not just locally among the miners and their community. Although most countries find it difficult to follow the intentions of the Minamata Convention there seem to be more activities to effectuate the ban among the 123 signatories. Law enforcement, support of new technologies, community awareness and focus on health and environment are pivotal in the National Plan model suggested by United Nations Environmental Programme, UNEP. Diálogos has for many years worked all over the World with different models to implement the Benquet mercury-free method. In the mining community La Libertad in Nicaragua focus is on four cooperatives and educating and supporting the interested miners in teaching their peers. Materials and Methods Interviews, questionnaires and focus group are used during an eight months data collection among miners and their families. Data are analysed and presented using sound statistical and analytical methods. Results The results from the one-year intervention in La Libertad in Nicaragua are presented with a focus on the female miners. The result of this intervention and its effect on health will be compared with other interventions in other parts of the world. Discussion- Conclusion The preliminary results show huge interest and ability to change technology among the miners. The stronger the cooperative and the responsibility towards each other in the community, the better the outcome in form of better sustainability and ability to teach other miners the mercury-free method. Hereby gaining a better health outcome for both miners and their families.
Smidth et al. (Mon,) studied this question.