Public health lessons for Türkiye in the context of the Erzincan İliç Gold Mine disaster: Is gold mining necessary?

Abstract

While the annual amount of gold produced was 1 ton in 2001, in Türkiye, it was observed that this amount increased to 31 tons in 2022. The main topics of discussion in gold mining are the production of gold with cyanide and the negative effects of this method. The aim of this review is to evaluate gold mining in Türkiye and develop recommendations in the context of the Erzincan İliç Gold Mine accident. The harmful effects of cyanide use are not limited to humans or animals. In addition to damaging the ecological balance by poisoning soil and water with possible leakage, it is known that heavy chemicals in waste dams remain in the atmosphere for a long time and cause air pollution. It is thought that the main reason for the disaster in the İliç Gold Mine was to increase the load of the leach pile by increasing the capacity twice. In addition, the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, which approved the capacity increase requests and allowed their implementation and did not fulfill its inspection duties, is also among those responsible for the disaster. İliç Gold Mine disaster, the negative effects of gold mining on environmental health, the loss of life of employees, the low economic public benefit and the fact that its possible effects may lead to serious public health problems, the question "Is gold mining necessary?" brought up the question. On the other hand, the environmental disaster and work accident once again revealed the need to make urgent and important decisions regarding all gold mining activities in our country. As a result, it is seen that in gold mining, the companies adopt the cheapest cost methods with the ambition of making more profit and does not take into account the environment and human health. The conclusion reached based on the very low public share in mining operations and the destruction of natural resources is that the gold mines in Turkey should be closed as soon as possible or, if they are to be operated, they should be operated by taking appropriate precautions and under state control.