Ekosse G-I E
Directorate of Research Development, Walter Sisulu University, Eastern Cape, South Africa.
Afr Health Sci. 2011 Mar;11(1):90-6.
Mining and smelting activities affect the biophysical environment and human health.
This paper elucidates on the human health status of residents close to a nickel-copper mine and concentrator/smelter plant.
600 questionnaires were administered and data generated was processed.
Health complaints of respondents included palpitations, lower abdominal pain, shortness of breath, constant chest pains, unusual spitting, coughing regularly, frequent headaches, loss of body weight, regular constipation, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, urinary pain, and unusual genital discharge. Many respondents suffered from headaches frequently with >50% from five sites. The majority of respondents having frequent influenza/common colds were from three sites. Pracetamol, aspirin and ibuprofen were taken for headache, period, back and abdominal pain. Fumes, vibrations, noise and constant movement of heavy equipment were considered as disturbing factors affecting health.
Fumes of SO(2) emanating from mining and smelting were the most suspected causative agent affecting health. Control site values for fumes, dust, vibrations and noise were very low. A link between health status and environmental pollution due to mining activities was thus inferred.
采矿和冶炼活动会影响生物物理环境及人类健康。
本文阐述了靠近镍铜矿及选矿厂/冶炼厂的居民的健康状况。
发放了600份问卷，并对收集到的数据进行了处理。
受访者的健康问题包括心悸、下腹痛、呼吸急促、持续胸痛、异常吐痰、经常咳嗽、频繁头痛、体重减轻、经常便秘、腹泻、恶心、呕吐、尿痛以及异常的生殖器分泌物。许多受访者经常头痛，五个地点超过50%的人有此症状。大多数经常患流感/普通感冒的受访者来自三个地点。人们服用脑复康、阿司匹林和布洛芬来缓解头痛、经期疼痛、背痛和腹痛。烟雾、震动、噪音以及重型设备的持续运转被认为是影响健康的干扰因素。
采矿和冶炼产生的二氧化硫烟雾是最可疑的影响健康的致病因素。烟雾、粉尘、震动和噪音的对照点数值非常低。由此推断出健康状况与采矿活动造成的环境污染之间存在关联。
