Human health impacts of natural diamond production

Paper in proceeding, 2020

Natural diamonds have been treasured by humans for centuries, but its production is associated with various negative human health impacts. These include occupational accidents in the production system (e.g. due to artisanal mining in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)), human health impacts due to production system emissions and diamond is furthermore associated with the conflict in the DRC. The aim of this study is to conduct a screening LCA of human health impacts in global natural diamond production. Preliminary results, quantified by applying the disability-adjusted life year indicator, show that production system emissions and occupational accidents in the production system, mainly from artisanal diamond mining in the DRC, constitute the largest contributors to negative human health impacts in natural diamond production globally. Potential positive human health impacts are also discussed. The preliminary results from this study can be applied in future studies of natural diamond and its products.