ASSESSMENT OF HEALTH IMPACTS DUE TO MINING ACTIVITIES IN SOUTH AFRICA

South Africa is blessed with mineral wealth and mining is one of the significant contributors to its growth domestic product (GDP). On the positive side, mining has generated millions of jobs and contributed significantly towards economic growth. However, on the negative side, mining has brought millions of tons of heavy metal rich ore to the surface causing irreparable damage to the environment. Mining remains one of the difficult and hazardous occupations and several historical studies reported negative impacts of mining on health of the mine workers and close by communities. Mining activities can contaminate soil, surface and ground water resources and metals induced as result of such contamination will eventually through various processes end up take up by humans causing various occupational health and safety issues. One of the examples of such human health impacts due to mining is various types of cancer prevalent in mine workers and surrounding communities.

Assessment of health impacts due to mining is an important component of holistic management of mining impacts and setting up mitigation strategies. This project will take a catchment assessment approach and will make use of geochemical and biogeochemical information gathered using other project(s) to identify hotspots for possible health impacts. Population densities and other socio-economic details will also be taken into account while screening the possible hotspots. Literature will be consulted to identify possible health impacts specific to the mining commodity and surveys and consultations in the form of a questionnaire will be carried out to assess the extent of damage. Finally, it is envisaged that a health impact classification map can be produced using the information obtained through this project.