Impacts of Trace Metals Pollution of Water, Food Crops, and Ambient Air on Population Health in Zambia and the DR Congo
Table 1
Population perception of the impacts of mining and metallurgic industries on the livelihood and health of different locations, artisanal miners, traders, price negotiators, and NGOs in Zambia and the DR Congo.
Salient mining problems discussed with urban and rural residents
ZAM (n = 180)
DRC (n = 318)
Community reaction to mining and metallurgic industry pollution
Local health services
NGOs
dMiners/traders/mineworker union
% yes
% no
% yes
% no
ZAM
DRC
ZAM
DRC
ZAM
DRC
Loss of agricultural land
68.0
32.0
100
0.0
Pollution has deteriorated our land
●c
○
Decrease in wild food such as mushrooms, and caterpillars
100
0.0
100
0.0
We now travel several kms to get some food from the wild
●
○
Water pollution from mine discharge
56.0
44.0
100
0.0
The water used is of poor quality
●
○
●
○
●
○
Soil degradation from mine pollution
85.0
15.0
100
0.0
Crop yield has decreased
●
○
●
○
●
○
Drying of some streams
24.0
76.0
35.0
65.0
Several streams have disappeared
●
○
●
○
Health issues among residents
100
0.0
100
0.0
We suffer from numerous illnesses
●
○
●
○
●
○
Alternative to water at homestead
0.0
100
0.0
100
There is nowhere water is pure
●
○
Normal life if water source was cut off or contaminated
0.0
100
0.0
100
This is the only water we have
●
○
Food consumption grown around homestead/village?
100
0.0
100
0.0
Because of poverty, everyone has a garden to sustain livelihood
●
○
Role of mining in livelihood
100
0.0
100
0.0
We except a lot from mine industries
●
○
aPercentage rounded to the nearest one of residents acknowledging the issue (yes) and used to deduct the no respondents. bCancer, diarrhea, respiratory issues, eye and throat irritation, skin tingling, fatigue, and congenital defects. cRecognition of the problem being present in Zambia (ZAM) (●) and in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) (○), except otherwise stated. dArtisanal miners and traders do not perceive any illness that could arise from their activity.
