The biomagnification impact of discharging elevated levels of iron in mine effluent on human health: a case of Nampundwe mine, central province of Zambia.
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Date
2025
Authors
Kambafwile, Mwitwa
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
The University of Zambia
Abstract
This study investigated the biomagnification impact of elevated iron levels in mine effluent on human health around Nampundwe Mine area in Shibuyunji District of Zambia. Nampundwe
Mine produces massive Pyrite (FeS2) with minor Pyrrhotite (FeS) and chalcopyrite (CuFeS2) used in copper smelters. Pyrite plays a crucial function in copper smelting process, providing a source of sulfur, iron, and fuel that aids copper recovery, reduce slag viscosity and increases smelting efficiency. Due to processing of the mineral, iron is transformed from ferrous to ferric form which is bioavailable to plants when released to the environment through the mine effluent and dust fallout from the tailings dam. The study was motivated by the extensive use of land and mine effluent for small scale farming by the local community. The study objective was to assess the impact of elevated levels of iron in mine effluent on the health of the Nampundwe Mine community. The use of land near mines and mine effluent for agriculture purposes could result in biomagnification of heavy metals. Biomagnification is the increase in concentrations of a substance, in the tissue of an organism in a higher level of a food chain. The study used a mixed-method approach which included laboratory data collection of iron content in soil, mine effluent, vegetable leaves, vegetable soup and blood samples. Blood samples were collected from guinea pigs to represent the animal model. The study discussed the prevalence of diseases associated with elevated iron levels such as acute hepatitis A, B and C, liver damage, cancer, haemolytic anaemia, liver injuries, and dry skin disorder using a questionnaire. The study used stata and excel in analysing laboratory data, and descriptive statistics of iron content in serum and vegetable in determining the iron content. The finding was that iron content in effluent was within the ZEMA threshold of 2mg/l for effluent water but above the WHO/FAO threshold of 0.5mg/l for irrigation water. Further, the iron content showed and increase in the leafy vegetables from 24.67 mg/l to 32.8 mg/l, from 26.31mg/l to 45.4mg/l and from 27.13mg/l to 32.1mg/l. Furthermore, iron levels in guinea pig serum equally increased by 23 per cent, 67 per cent, 13.5 per cent and 55 per cent. The results confirmed a pass-through effect of iron biomagnification in shoots of fresh vegetables via the food chain. Similarly, the guinea pigs exhibited signs of iron overload in form of a dry skin disorder. With these findings, of effluent water results being above the WHO/FAO threshold for irrigation water, it is recommended that authorities such as Zambia Environmental management Agency consider enforcing compliance with Mining Regulations at source. With \the observed biomagnification in effluent irrigated vegetables, ZEMA to consider restricting the use of plant effluent for agriculture purposes. In a multi-sectoral intervention, ZEMA is recommended to work with Ministry of Health, and to sensitize the catchment population on
the dangers of consuming mine effluent irrigated vegetables and improve the cancer status in mining communities.
Description
Thesis of Master of Science Degree in Sustainable Mineral Resource Development.