Heavy Metal Exposure in Peri-Mineral Areas of The Bandama River Zone: The Case of The Village of Zagouta in Bouafle Department

Background and Objective: Humans are exposed to metals through their diet and lifestyle, such as in gold panning. Some metals are essential to the physiological functions of the body, while others are non-essential and can be toxic to humans. The aim of this study is therefore to assess the level exposure to heavy metals of people living near gold-mining sites. Materials and Methods: This was a prospective study of populations living near a gold-mining site. The parameters studied were sex, age and duration of exposure, and heavy metals. Heavy metal assays were carried out using the IPC-AAS Solaar S2. Wilcoxon rank sum. A p-value 0.05 was considered significant. Results: Our study involved 22 people with an average age of 58 years, with exposure duration of over 10 years in 95% of the study population and less than 5 years in 4.5%. More than the half of the population drank alcohol. Biological assays detected the presence of 10 heavy metals, some of which, such as mercury, lead, arsenic and cadmium, had mean values above the threshold limit. Conclusion: These results point to environmental pollution, which can be explained by the high levels of heavy metals found. This study highlights the importance of representative population studies to manage the consequences of gold panning on public health and the environment, ensuring the safety and well-being of the populations living in this vulnerable region.