Ore dust affects residents\' health, so move dump

Tag : manganese ore

Ore dust affects residents health, so move dump
I WAS absolutely horrified to read of all the potential hazardssurrounding the manganese ore facility and tank farm (Shock reporton Bay harbour pollution, The Herald, September 25). As a residentof Humewood and living in sight of these ore dumps for nearly sixyears, I can categorically state my family and I have suffered anoticeable increase in respiratory illness since we moved to ourhome in Humewood.
As I have two small children at playschool, I have tended to writeoff the increase in bronchitis etc to the fact that small kids tendto pass around ailments. As a result, I have suffered two or morebouts of bronchitis annually, with my children getting sick evenmore frequently.
This does not take into account the damage caused to our homes,curtains etc, which are permanently blackened as a result of thispollution. A member of the Algoa Bay Yacht Club recently jokedyachtsmen throughout the world are able to identify yachts fromPort Elizabeth because they are the ones with the blackened decksand sails.
One has to ask the question given the close proximity of the oreberth: is it coincidence we are getting lung infections morefrequently? I think not. I have taken the time to research possiblehealth hazards associated with regular exposure to manganeseparticulate pollution.
According to the World Health Organisation, one of the main organsaffected by chronic inhalation of manganese particulate are thelungs (obviously).
Available data indicates exposure to excess manganese for 14 daysor less has an effect on the respiratory system. Longer exposure(up to a year) causes additional harmful effects to the nervoussystem as well.
Lung toxicity is manifested in increased susceptibility toinfections such as bronchitis and can even result in manganicpneumonia.
The point I am trying to make is that it is no longer acceptablefor residents of any city to be forced to have their health and thehealth of their loved ones held to ransom because of unacceptablebureaucratic bungling and apparent lack of concern by the officialsinvolved. Former minister Alec Irwin stated it is not yet viable tomove this ore dump.
I say rubbish  there can be no cost boundaries attached to theprovision of a healthy environment for the citizens of this area.Valuable land is being tied up as a result of this procrastination,the ore berth and tank farm remain an eyesore and profits are beingput before the health of honest tax-paying citizens.
As the ward councillor for this area, I intend to lobby theresidents of the surrounding areas to start a petition calling forthe removal of these facilities to Ngqura once and for all. Inaddition I will be lobbying Environmental and Tourism MinisterMarthinus van Schalkwyk to correct this decades-long injustice.
Our rights are being trampled upon, and its time we stood togetherand said enough. Had Transnet sold the contentious land which hitthe headlines recently for a market related price (Future of primeharbour land veiled in mystery, The Herald, September 19), thisalone may have covered the cost of moving these facilities.
Any residents interested in getting a petition on the go shouldplease e-mail ward2@summerstrand.org.za
Dean Biddulph, DA councillor, Ward 2, Port Elizabeth