GCRF Mine Dust and Health Workshop - Summary

This multi-disciplinary workshop on mine dust was funded by the Global Challenges Research Fund and hosted by the UCT Minerals to Metals Initiative.

We were excited to host this year’s event as the GCRF Mine Dust and Health network workshop having been successfully awarded a grant from the GCRF. This continues our annual mine dust workshops to carry on exploring opportunities for developing trans-disciplinary, multi-stakeholder approaches to the challenges involved.

Presentations

MINE DUST AS A HUMAN RIGHT’S ISSUE IN THE EMERGING FRAME OF THE INTERNATIONAL RIGHT TO ENVIRONMENT

- Prof Tracy-Lynn Humby, Professor of Law and Consultant, The University of the Witwatersrand

LIVING IN A HAZE: MINE DUST AND HEALTH

- Dr Shahieda Adams, Co-director of the Dust Network and physician at Groote Schuur (UCT), as well as a senior lecturer in Occupational Health Physician

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: TOWARDS SOCIAL AND EPISTEMIC JUSTICE

- Prof Helen McDonald: Anthropology Dep (UCT)

DUST MANAGEMENT IN SOUTH AFRICA: REGULATOR’S

- Olebogeng Matshediso: The Deputy Director for Atmospheric Policy, Norms and Standards, Department of Environmental Affairs

INSIGHT INTO THE PHYSICOCHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF INHALABLE DUST IN RELATION TO RESPIRATORY STRESS

- CK Kamanzi, UCT PhD student, UCT

REGULATORY MODELLING OF MINE DUST IN SOUTH AFRICA

- Roelof Burger – North West University, Senior Lecturer, Unit for Environmental Science and Management, and part of the Climatology Research Group

ATMOSPHERIC DUST EMISSIONS FROM SURFACE MINING: PRIORITISING MONITORING STRATEGIES FOR COMPLIANCE
AND MANAGEMENT

- Matthew Ojelede – Digby Wells Environmental Consultancy - Air quality specialist

WORKING TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE AMBIENT AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT FROM PIT TO PORT IN KWAZULU NATAL -
DEVELOPING FRAMEWORK FOR AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT FOR THE PORTS.

- Litha Dalindyebo – Transnet – Senior manager for risk department at Transnet port terminals, and does research for air quality for Transnet – PhD Candidate UKZN

Research Themes

Exposure and health effects Firstly, different impacts should be identified, characterised and quantified, such as the impacts to humans (health), environments and animals... Read more

Monitoring and measurement For the discussion about exactly what monitoring and measuring entails one needs to investigate purpose – Why do we monitor and measure and What is the end goal? Read more

Policy and law Regarding the issue of policies and laws on the management of mine dust, it is important to note that we are not in a situation where these issues exist in a policy and legal vacuum… Read more

Community awareness and education The group cautioned that however we imagine or understand communities, there will still be divisions within that. Thus, we need to pay attention to a range of socio-economic demographics… Read more

Mitigation and rehabilitation The initial remark is that rehabilitation is in fact part of mitigation, and innovation should also be included in the themes title, as it is interlinked and crucial to mitigation. Read more