Environmental and Occupational Hygiene Considerations for High-Arsenic Metallurgical Testwork

Many gold deposits also contain significant quantities of deleterious elements such as arsenic. Several biological pathways are possible for arsenic exposure; special care and caution must be used while undertaking metallurgical testwork on ores and concentrates that contain high levels of arsenic. Laboratory precautions pertaining to handling of airborne dust concentrations, necessary personal protective equipment, and effluent treatment are discussed.