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Health status of learners of educational institutions within Selebi Phikwe Ni-Cu mine area, Botswana

Published Article / Health effects associated with Ni-Cu mining on learners living within the mining area at Selebi Phikwe were investigated through the administration of questionnaires. Results depicted learners suffering from a wide range of different symptoms and illnesses. 70% of the learners complained of coughs, 77% had influenza / common cold, and 80% had headaches. The repeated coughing, constant influenza / common cold and persistent headaches from which learners suffered, were very significantly higher than those at the control site; and incidences of their occurrence increased with closeness to the mining area. The unusual high occurrences of these ailments and illnesses coupled with associated diseases among learners 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.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:cut/oai:ir.cut.ac.za:11462/533
Date January 2009
CreatorsEkosse, G.E., De Jager, L., Van Den Heever, D.
ContributorsCentral University of Technology, Free State, Bloemfontein
PublisherJournal for New Generation Sciences, Vol 7, Issue 2: Central University of Technology, Free State, Bloemfontein
Source SetsSouth African National ETD Portal
Languageen_US
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeArticle
Format191 874 bytes, 1 file, Application/PDF
RightsCentral University of Technology, Free State, Bloemfontein
RelationJournal for New Generation Sciences;Vol 7, Issue 2

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