Environmental exposure to uranium in a population living in close proximity to gold mine tailings in South Africa.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Gold mining activities in South Africa resulted in contamination of residential environment with uranium-rich wastes from mine tailings. Health of the people living around the mine tailings could be affected by uranium exposure due to its hazardous chemotoxic and radiological properties.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional study to assess i) uranium (U) concentrations in individual hair samples of children and adults living in close proximity to mine tailings in Northeast- Soweto in Johannesburg, South Africa, and ii) the association between U concentrations in hair and various factors, including zone of residence, socio-demographic and housing characteristics. Sampling sites were divided into three zones based on the distance between a dwelling and a cluster o

SUBMITTER: Zupunski L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10030373 | biostudies-literature | 2023 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature