Department of Environmental Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Doornfontein Campus, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa.
National Health Laboratory Service, Toxicology and Biochemistry Department, National Institute for Occupational Health, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Front Public Health. 2024 Mar 8;12:1328955. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1328955. eCollection 2024.
Gold mine tailings, a legacy of the mining industry, harbors significant amount of radon gas, a classified human carcinogen. Radon exposure, especially near tailings, is a significant public health threat, potentially leading to increased risk of lung cancer, leukemia, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). These health problems are often associated with lower survival rates and significant financial burdens. This ongoing research aim to evaluating the relationship between indoor radon exposure and lung cancer, leukemia, and COPD risks among residents proximal to gold mine tailings in Gauteng Province, South Africa. This cross-sectional preliminary study focus on two distinct groups: Riverlea (exposed group, <2 km to Gold mine tailings) and Orlando East (unexposed group, >2 km to Gold mine tailings). Indoor radon levels is measured using AlphaE monitors, while health risks (lung cancer, leukemia, and COPD) linked to exposure are evaluated through interview-administered questionnaire and secondary data from Gauteng Health Department. Of the 476 residents randomly selected for this study, 300 have already participated, with balanced representation from both the exposed and unexposed groups. The study will compare indoor radon levels and health outcomes between the two groups. This study's results could aid in creating targeted interventions and policies to mitigate indoor radon exposure risks and safeguard vulnerable communities from this significant public health hazard.
金矿尾矿是采矿业的遗留物，蕴藏着大量的氡气，这是一种已分类的人类致癌物。氡气暴露，特别是在尾矿附近，是一个重大的公共健康威胁，可能会增加患肺癌、白血病和慢性阻塞性肺疾病（COPD）的风险。这些健康问题通常与较低的生存率和巨大的经济负担有关。本研究旨在评估南非豪登省金矿尾矿附近居民的室内氡暴露与肺癌、白血病和 COPD 风险之间的关系。这项横断面初步研究关注两个不同的群体：Riverlea（暴露组，距离金矿尾矿<2 公里）和 Orlando East（未暴露组，距离金矿尾矿>2 公里）。室内氡水平使用 AlphaE 监测器进行测量，而通过访谈式问卷和豪登卫生部的二级数据评估与暴露相关的健康风险（肺癌、白血病和 COPD）。在这项研究中，随机选择了 476 名居民，其中 300 名已经参与，暴露组和未暴露组的代表性均衡。该研究将比较两组的室内氡水平和健康结果。本研究的结果可以帮助制定有针对性的干预措施和政策，以减轻室内氡暴露风险，并保护弱势社区免受这一重大公共健康危害。
