Tanya L Zakrison1, Pedro Cabezas1, Evan Valle1, Julie Kornfeld1, Carles Muntaner1, Sophie Soklaridis1. 1. Tanya L. Zakrison and Evan Valle are with the Division of Trauma and Surgical Critical Care, DeWitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, University of Miami, Miami, FL. Julie Kornfeld is with the Department of Public Health Sciences, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami. Pedro Cabezas is with the Association for the Development of El Salvador (CRIPDES), San Salvador, El Salvador. Carles Muntaner is with the Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, and Sophie Soklaridis is with CAMH Education, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: We investigated themes related to the health and environmental impacts of gold mining in El Salvador. METHODS: Over a 1-month period in 2013, we conducted focus groups (n = 32 participants in total) and individual semistructured interviews (n = 11) with community leaders until we achieved thematic saturation. Data collection took place in 4 departments throughout the country. We used a combination of criterion-purposive and snowballing sampling techniques to identify participants. RESULTS: Multiple themes emerged: (1) the fallacy of economic development; (2) critique of mining activities; (3) the creation of mining-related violence, with parallels to El Salvador's civil war; and (4) solutions and alternatives to mining activity. Solutions involved the creation of cooperative microenterprises for sustainable economic growth, political empowerment within communities, and development of local participatory democracies. CONCLUSIONS: Gold mining in El Salvador is perceived as a significant environmental and public health threat. Local solutions may be applicable broadly.
OBJECTIVES: We investigated themes related to the health and environmental impacts of gold mining in El Salvador. METHODS: Over a 1-month period in 2013, we conducted focus groups (n = 32 participants in total) and individual semistructured interviews (n = 11) with community leaders until we achieved thematic saturation. Data collection took place in 4 departments throughout the country. We used a combination of criterion-purposive and snowballing sampling techniques to identify participants. RESULTS: Multiple themes emerged: (1) the fallacy of economic development; (2) critique of mining activities; (3) the creation of mining-related violence, with parallels to El Salvador's civil war; and (4) solutions and alternatives to mining activity. Solutions involved the creation of cooperative microenterprises for sustainable economic growth, political empowerment within communities, and development of local participatory democracies. CONCLUSIONS: Gold mining in El Salvador is perceived as a significant environmental and public health threat. Local solutions may be applicable broadly.
Authors: J E Saunders; B G Jastrzembski; J C Buckey; D Enriquez; T A MacKenzie; M R Karagas Journal: Audiol Neurootol Date: 2012-12-15 Impact factor: 1.854
Authors: Sandra P Gamiño-Gutiérrez; C Ivonne González-Pérez; María E Gonsebatt; Marcos G Monroy-Fernández Journal: Environ Geochem Health Date: 2012-06-27 Impact factor: 4.609