Abstract:
Exploitation of nickel-copper (Ni-Cu) at Selebi Phikwe, Botswana is
considered to have environmental and human health implications. Of particular
concern is the labour force, which experiences a higher level of exposure
to environmental hazards due to mining, compared to other categories of
residents within the Ni-Cu mining environment. Health effects associated
with Ni-Cu mining on workers living within the area were thus investigated
through the administration of questionnaires. Results depicted workers
suffering from different symptoms and illnesses as follows in percentages:
body weakness 42, loss of body weight 16, influenza/common colds 66, headaches
70, chest pain 40, repeated coughing 45, need to spit often 6, shortness
of breath 18, palpitations 14, regular lower abdominal pain 31, pain when
urinating 4, genital discharge at some time 5, nausea/vomiting 12, frequent
diarrhoea 12 and constant constipation 10. Values obtained for same symptoms
and diseases at the control site were in general lower than those closer
to the mining area. Frequent chest pains, repeated coughing, constant
influenza/common cold and persistent headaches, which workers of the environment
suffer from were very significantly higher compared to those at the control
site and incidences of their occurrences increased with closeness to mining
area. The unusual high occurrences of these ailments and illnesses coupled
with associated diseases among workers at Selebi Phikwe were attributed
to several environmental factors including contaminated Particulate Air
Matter (PAM) (rich in sulphur and heavy metals) linked to the mining and
smelting of Ni-Cu. These findings are in conformity with those of previous
related studies and infer possible similarities for workers of business
enterprises within other Ni-Cu mining environments around the world.
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