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.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 2382-2387 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | American Journal of Public Health |
| Volume | 105 |
| Issue number | 11 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2015 Nov 1 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
Cite this
The perceived consequences of gold mining in Postwar El Salvador : A qualitative study. / Zakrison, Tanya L.; Cabezas, Pedro; Valle, Evan; Kornfeld, Julie; Muntaner, Carles; Soklaridis, Sophie.
In: American Journal of Public Health, Vol. 105, No. 11, 01.11.2015, p. 2382-2387.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - The perceived consequences of gold mining in Postwar El Salvador
T2 - A qualitative study
AU - Zakrison, Tanya L.
AU - Cabezas, Pedro
AU - Valle, Evan
AU - Kornfeld, Julie
AU - Muntaner, Carles
AU - Soklaridis, Sophie
PY - 2015/11/1
Y1 - 2015/11/1
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
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U2 - 10.2105/AJPH.2015.302832
DO - 10.2105/AJPH.2015.302832
M3 - Article
VL - 105
SP - 2382
EP - 2387
JO - American Journal of Public Health
JF - American Journal of Public Health
SN - 0090-0036
IS - 11
ER -