Abstract
M.Sc. (Environmental Management)
Any change in land-use goes hand-in-hand with changes in the prevailing ambient conditions
such as a change in the prevailing environmental noise and ground vibration levels. This
increase may have an impact on the health and well-being of people and may furthermore
result in structural damage to houses. The level of exposure will depend on the type of
activity, distance from the source and the attitude of the people exposed to the land-change
activities.
The main objective of this research was to identify, compare and determine what the impact
of mine establishment could have on a residential area some 900m from the mine footprint
area. The results of the survey would assist management in employing engineering control
measures which would control the exposure levels.
Mines are generally established in frontier regions where there are already formal and
informal residential areas. These residential areas are usually in rural districts with low
prevailing ambient noise levels or, if in fact perceptible, insignificant ones at the most. This
study dealt with the evaluation of physical aspects such as environmental noise and ground
vibration levels and the determination of exposure levels, an issue of environmental impact
and of concern to public health.
The village which is being exposed to increased noise and ground vibration levels is a formal
housing area with infrastructural components such as roads, water and electricity
connections. The exposure levels before and during the construction phase gave an
indication of the positive or negative exposure levels that the people were enduring during the
establishment phase of the mine...