VNITHEL

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The mine environment and human health: a study of health hazards due to air and water pollution near manganese mines in central India in relation to the productivity and living standards of mine workers and their families and the development of dissemination techniques for increasing environmental awareness.

A British Council sponsored collaboration between the University of Exeter (UK) and VNIT Nagpur (India)

The project:

The purpose of the project is to investigate environment health around selected manganese mines in central India focusing on health hazards associated with air and water pollution in relation to the productivity and living standards of mine workers and their families and the development of dissemination techniques for increasing environmental awareness. The project continues the collaboration established by a previous study of the Environmental Aspects of Mining which took place between 1991 and 1994.

Protection from health hazards would reduce the incidence of health problems of workers (men and women, each with particular health priorities). Special attention will be paid to the effects of environmental health hazards on women, who bear the burden of health care in the family. The research will pay particular attention to the perceptions, knowledge and experience of women in order to provide outputs which will be of direct benefit to women.

The project team includes mining engineers, geologists, pollution scientists and a gender and development specialist supported by mine staff and local health practitioners.

The success of the project will be measurable in the long term through improved health of workers and improved livelihoods (in both earnings and security through extended working life). Short term indicators would include the level of participation in project activities by the target group (mine workers and their families).

The project will include studies of the Rajhara Iron Mine in Chhattisgarh (above)

Planned activities:

physicochemical environmental survey and observation focusing on air and water quality and other environmental hazards
social environmental survey and observation focusing on the special impacts on women of environmental health hazards
development of participatory training techniques to enhance the awareness of pollution hazards amongst the mine workers and their families (the level of these courses being such that they are fully accessible to men and women of different backgrounds)
training of target groups and dissemination of information on specific environmental protection measures and pollution load abatement through workshops and participatory activities
mass contact programmes followed by individual contact programmes
participatory workshops on sustainable development and eco-friendly techniques
monitoring of the health status of the workers before and during the programme
evaluation of the improvement in environmental awareness

A manual of good environmental practice will be produced in cooperation with the mineworkers and their families for their own use in improving their own quality of life.

The project, supported by the British Council, Mumbai, under its Higher Education Link Scheme, commenced in April 2003 and will continue until March 2006.

For further information contact:

Dr Mike Heath
Camborne School of Mines
University of Exeter
Pool
Redruth
Cornwall TR15 3SE (UK)

Direct tel/fax: 01209-216647
International: 00 44 1209 216647
email: M.J.Heath@exeter.ac.uk