Foundation’s research reveals extent of heavy metal poisoning in Soweto
Neurotoxic disorders such as autism, attention deficit disorder, mental retardation, and cerebral palsy are common and cause lifelong disability.
Contaminated water at Snake Park in Soweto, 10 June 2019. Mine dumps are made up of crushed, sand-like by-product refuse material, known as tailings, produced during the mining process. Mine dumps are made up of a complex mixture of metals and dust particles. Dust exposure can be high for communities living nearby, particularly during windy conditions and when it’s dry and vegetation cover is low.Picture: Nigel Sibanda
Recently released research conducted by the Bench Marks Foundation has found heavy metal particles in the air, water and soil of Snake Park location, Soweto.
The samples for the research consisted of five human hair samples, five animal hair samples, and dust and water from surrounding mines – and they found the heavy metal particles resembled those in a nearby mine dump.
The heavy metals found in the soil, water, and the hairs of animals and humans separately consist of different heavy metals, with traces of uranium, zinc, arsenic, selenium, sulphur and lithium.
The levels of the elements were compared with the World Health Organisation’s safety standards and all the levels of the tailing mines’ water far exceeded the allowable margins.
Lead researcher David van Wyk said that on windy days dust from the mine dump blows across the location. People are then exposed to the heavy metals and they enter their systems through inhalation, water and open pores.
“When the chemical substances are inside the system they have the ability to change the DNA, which could be the reason for the high number of children born with disabilities in the area because their parents had been exposed to the chemicals for years,” said Van Wyk.
The researcher said there were about 6,000 abandoned mines in the country that had never been officially closed, and the department of minerals failed to enforce laws for the companies to take responsibility for the mines and mine dumps.
According to Van Wyk, the mine owners were required to plant trees that would stabilise the intensity of chemicals, and mitigate contamination of water, soil and the air. Heavy metal exposure in childhood can result in cognitive and behavioural defects in children.
Neurotoxic disorders such as autism, attention deficit disorder, mental retardation, and cerebral palsy are common and cause lifelong disability.
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