Mining
Kenya could be losing millions of shillings as a result of unregulated mining activities that see miners go for the precious ore and dispose soil containing secondary but valuable minerals haphazardly.
According to Kenyan scientists, lack of strict regulation of mining waste disposal was taking toll on the public who end up exposed to diseases as a result of both direct and indirect consumption of the chemicals.
Speaking during the 11th International conference of the Kenya Chemical Society (KCS) whose theme was “achieving sustainable economy through innovations and technology,” the scientists say it was high time the government stamped its feet and brought order to the sector. The conference was held at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology in Bondo, Siaya county.
KCS members, among them Maseno university don, Professor Chrispine Kowenje said the society was ready to support the government in ensuring best practices in artisanal mining which, he added, should be regulated to ensure proper waste disposal.
Dr. Anjeline Orwa, from JOOUST, addressing journalists
The chemistry don said there was need to re-look at both the extraction and mining waste disposal methods so as to protect the environment.
“For example, gold does not exist alone. It exists with copper, zinc, silver lead and iron,” said Prof. Kowenje adding that there was need for the government to partner with scientists to make full benefit of this and not leave everything at the hands of artisanal miners who lack the knowledge of safe disposal of the waste.
He says that lack of knowledge amongst majority of the small scale miners has seen most go for just one element after evacuating the minerals from the mines. “It is similar to killing a whole cow only to go for one organ and leave the rest of the carcass to rot,” said Prof. Kowenje adding “once we do the extraction, we must look for all the valuable minerals,”.
This, he says, will not only see the miners and the country maximise on their earnings, but will also help in proper waste management. His sentiments were shared by Dr. Anjeline Ochung’ Orwa of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology who says that lack of technical knowledge amongst most miners has seen them expose themselves to harmful chemicals such as mercury and cyanide.
“In the process, apart from environmental pollution, they also inhale fumes from these chemicals,” said Dr. Orwa. Dr. Orwa says that a recent study she undertook within the mining areas revealed that a many were complaining of headaches especially in the evenings and chest pains.
“There was this group of women who talked about frequent miscarriages amongst other effects,” said Dr. Orwa who said that improper waste disposal results into the chemicals beings washed through surface run off to the water bodies. “I am sure these chemicals are assimilated even in plants which animals later feed on and in the long term, human beings feed on both the plants and animals,” she said.
Women processing raw ore at a gold mining site in Siaya. KCS calls for strict regulation of mining waste disposal
Apart from the mining waste disposal challenges, the scientists are further calling for urgent attention to the plastic waste management. According to Makerere University’s Dr. Christine Betty Nagawa, variations in temperature leads to breakdown of plastics to micro plastics that impacts on human and animal health.
“We are living in the plastic era where almost everything we are using is made of plastic,” said Dr. Nagawa adding “plastic particles of less than five millimetres have impacts on human, animal health as well as the environment,”. As an example of the harm to the environment, Dr. Nagawa says recent studies have shown that fish in the region were no longer reproducing at the expected rate because micro plastics are accumulating in their gut and reproductive organs.
She calls on the public to support government efforts to manage plastic waste adding “you could be feeding on micro plastics through fish without knowing,”.