Abstract
Although gold mining is a major economic activity in developing countries such as South
Africa, it bears both positive and negative impacts on society, specifically those living closer
to mine tailing facilities. The wind-blown dust-containing heavy metals, such as lead, is
detrimental to the health of children born and raised in settlements close to these mine dumps.
There is no safe threshold for lead exposure in children, and the ongoing need for primary
intervention to reduce the exposure remains to safeguard children from the effects of lead
poisoning on growth and behaviour. The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of a
personal and domestic hygiene intervention in reducing lead exposure in children in a
community located close to a mine dump. The study utilised a descriptive, correlational and
experimental design, having a before-and-after intervention phase with a control and
intervention group. Data was collected using 1) a structured questionnaire through interviews
with parents/guardians; 2) through the collection of soil samples, floor dust wipes and
children’s hands dust wipes to analyse for lead content; 3) through participants' completed
diaries and interviews using a feedback checklist. The results show the presence of lead in the
study area in the soil, the floor of the dwellings as high as 100 μg/L and on the hands of the
children at a maximum concentration level of 60 μg/L. The study demonstrates that a personal
and domestic hygiene intervention was able to reduce dust lead levels on households’ floors
and in the hands of the children of Snake Park, Soweto. The study, in its exploratory nature,
contributes to the possible solution to reducing lead exposure in children, which to date remains
a public health concern.
Key Words: Lead, Lead exposure, Mine dumps, Children, Domestic Hygiene Intervention