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Negative health
effects of Lepanto's mining highlighted in DOH national forum
A research entitled “Health Profile of Communities Living Near Corporate
Gold Mining Operations in Mankayan, Benguet Province (Preliminary Findings
of an Environmental and Occupational Hazard Assessment)” was awarded
first prize in the Department of Health’s Poster Exhibit Contest. The
activity was part of the 5th Health Research for Action Nation
Forum held last June 3-4 at the Centennial Hall of the Manila Hotel. Co-sponsors
of the event were the Department of Health’s Health Policy Development
and Planning Bureau and the Department of Science and Technology’s Philippine
Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD).
The research was authored by Dr. Ana Marie R. Leung, Chairperson of the
Department of Preventive and Community Medicine of Saint Louis University
and concurrent spokesperson of the Save the Abra River Movement (STARM).
Dr. Teresita Bonoan, Regional Director of DOH-CAR was on hand to receive
the award with her.
This study aims to describe the health profile of communities living near
corporate gold mining and of company-employed mineworkers. It aims to
determine the prevalence of symptoms attributable to acid mine drainage
among the community residents as well as the prevalence of work-associated
symptoms among the mineworkers.
Questionnaire-guided interviews were conducted among 788 residents living
in 3 communities (sitios) lying downstream from the operations
of Lepanto Consolidated Mining Corporation in Mankayan, Benguet. Questionnaire-guided
interviews and physical examination of 88 Lepanto mineworkers were also
conducted.
Most significant were the findings for Sitio Paalaban, Barangay Paco.
The residents living nearer the mine drainage (Lower Paalaban) were found
to report significantly more skin, eye, nasal and gastrointestinal (particularly
vomiting) symptoms than those living farther away from the mine drainage
(Upper Paalaban). Also alarming are the results of 2-day serial and spot
water sampling at the company mill outlet and mine tailings dam 5A which
yielded lead, mercury and cyanide levels above the maximum safety level
set by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and/or the
United States Environmental Protection Agency.
Among the mineworkers hired by Lepanto, the most prevalent injuries
were lacerations (43.18%), crushing injuries (17.05%), bruises (1477%)
and fractures (13.64%) usually involving rock or timber fall. Twenty percent
(20%) of these cases required hospitalization. Most prevalent among the
work-associated symptoms reported by the mineworkers were: phlegm production
(79.55%), joint pain (78.41%), eye irritation (67.05%), headache (55.68%),
dyspnea (48.86%) and dizziness (36.36%). Most prevalent abnormal physical
findings were hypertension (28.41%) and perforated eardrum (19.32%). The
supply and use of personal protective equipment was also identified as
an area that Lepanto needs to improve on significantly. #
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Save the Abra River Movement
Ressurection Compound
No. 362 Magsaysay Ave.,
2600, Baguio City, Philippines
Tel./Fax: +63-74-442-2572
email: abrariver@4d.net
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 379, 2600, Baguio City, Philippines
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