anasayfa

 

 

  PROCEEDING OF THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON

EUROPEAN ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY

AND THE CASE OF CYPRUS MINES

 

 

 

 

 


 

“THE ENVIRONMENTAL and PUBLIC HEALTH PROBLEMS DUE TO TAILING PONDS OF COPPER MINE IN LEFKE, CYPRUS

 

Prof Dr. Fethi DOĞAN

Ege University Faculty of Medicine Department of Public Health, IZMIR-TURKEY

 

This report had been prepared on the basis of the other instructor’s analysis for the invitation of Environmental Protection and Presentation Society of Lefke which informed to Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Government, on November 1999. Investigations and collecting the samples had been carried out during three days and then the samples had been analyzed at Ege University.

 

A. THE PREVIOUS INVESTIGATIONS DEALING WITH THIS SUBJECT

 

After literature searching, the following articles were obtained:

 

§         According to the publication, dated June 6 ,1963,written by Turkish Cypriot Worker Association, it had been reported that Silicosis being a member of Pneumoconiosis as a type of lung illness had increased dramatically, therefore, indemnity payments had been increased 50% in ratio.(1)

§         At the committee meeting, carried by Dr. Fazıl Küçük’s presidency, of Cyprus Mine Company, in 1967, it had been asserted that the mine dust had damaged extremely to the citrus fruits especially lemon flowers and trees, therefore, it had been stated that they would be unproductive in ten years and also damages had been seen for last four years. The major concern of the meeting had been the request of indemnity payments to the producers because of decreasing in the orange product from 20 million in 1962 to 6 million and 4 million in 1963 and 1964 respectively.(2)

§         A committee had been set up by Agricultural Division Agricultural Research Institute in 1970 for searching of this Copper mine dust deposition on vegetation at Lefke, and the leaf analysis had been done at Agricultural Division Chemical Research Centre and also at State Laboratory. As a result, deposition of the mine dust on leaves, decreasing in dimensions of fruit and trees, badly effecting in colour, taste and quality of fruits had been determined.(3)

§         It had been stated in the report, dated June 9th 1999, prepared by Environmental Protection and Presentation Society of Lefke, sent to Mr. Mustafa Akıncı, State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, that the heavy metals in Gemikonağı Gölet’s water had been found in very high ratio and besides some of them had reached to 15-17 times higher than their own standard values according to the water analysis carried by state Laboratories.(4)

 


Table 1: Results of Analysis (The Report prepared by Halil Çağnan, KKTC State Laboratory Directorship, Director of Radiation and Environment Analysis, dated October 28th,1999)

 

Location

Sample

Amount of Sample For Analysis

 

Al

(mg/Kg)

 

Cr

(mg/Kg)

Cu

(mg/Kg)

Fe

(mg/Kg)

Mn

(mg/Kg)

Vegetation samples collected form CMC

Şifa otu 1

2.5770

195.03

15.50

63.72

 

39.43

Şifa otu 2

2.7391

185.28

16.53

75.32

 

38.92

Pire otu 1

2.3499

207.41

3.24

77.28

 

27.55

Pire otu 2

2.3497

213.01

10.42

58.60

 

32.14

Gabbar 1

3.3694

48.97

0.79

7.13

70.04

 

Gabbar 2

3.5786

43.59

0.65

7.37

60.58

28.11

Ayrelli 1

2.3219

44.02

1.02

3.34

 

8.66

Ayrelli 2

2.2343

43.13

0.86

3.90

 

9.38

Akasya 1

2.3048

115.80

1.25

11.34

96.93

43.65

Akasya 2

2.3749

89.39

1.20

11.26

96.68

43.24

Ayrık otu 1

2.0807

149.71

2.11

  6.07

164.51

63.44

Ayrık otu 2

2.1228

204.02

3.26

46.17

164.83

42.91

Kuzu otu 1

2.0349

234.56

6.51

  5.32

163.74

69.14

Kuzu otu 2

2.0045

391.47

2.87

  9.14

226.29

66.99

Çatırez 1

2.0403

64.11

1.33

  0.42

52.10

12.86

Çatırez 2

2.0178

63.14

2.25

17.55

180.74

17.44

 

 

 

Vegetation Samples Collected Form Assumed Clean Area

Şifa otu 1

2.3119

618.11

32.05

7.43

0.33

14.78

Şifa otu 2

2.3905

684.82

22.40

19.57

0.26

9.54

Pire otu 1

1.9515

67.18

1.04

3.99

179.33

7.35

Pire otu 2

2.4124

121.99

1.37

4.39

102.84

7.68

Gabbar 1

2.3339

82.95

0.89

5.49

82.99

11.48

Gabbar 2

2.7112

70.49

0.66

4.74

77.42

9.93

 

§         According to KKTC State Laboratory Directorship’s report, dated October 28th 1999, 8 vegetable samples collected from Gemi Konağı Maden İşleme Tesisleri at different dates and 3 vegetable samples collected from assumed clean areas had been investigated. As it is obvious at the enclosed analysis results; only chrome among the carcinogen heavy metals had been analyzed and chrome value had been found too much at Şifaotu and at  Pireotu  collected from contaminated area and also at Şifaotu collected from assumed uncontaminated area. As it is known that the heavy metals deposited on vegetables pass to human by two ways i.e. directly and indirectly; as eating of these vegetables by human and eating of meat and drinking of milk of animals eating these vegetables respectively(6,7,8). Certainly, due to only chrome among carcinogen heavy metals had been investigated, we had to evaluate only chrome. It is assumed that other carcinogen heavy metals especially arsenic and mercury are too much.

 

§         As a result; any work and attempt relating with the public health problems resulting of Lefke Copper Mine had not been done previously. It had been seen that there were some searches but they had been prepared in the view of considering of economical, agricultural and product concerns instead of public health. The effecting level of residents from toxic, chemical and carcinogen heavy metals diffusing from tailing storage had not been investigated.

 

B- OUR INVESTIGATIONS BASED ON THE VISIT DATED NOVEMBER 1999.

 

            The visit to Copper Mine had been realized by us obeying to previously mentioned procedure. Since Gemikonağı Mine Processing Establishment had not permitted to us for entering the gate, reaching to open mine ponds had been realized by wandering around the land. All of  6 big 6 small ponds had been wandered, searched and also soil, leaf and water samples had been collected by Prof. Dr. Ünal Altınbaş from Ege University, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of  Soil. It had been observed that one of the big tailing ponds near the stream had collapsed in the flood therefore the tailing pond mud having extremely high amount of toxic chemicals and carcinogen heavy metals had reached to the sea by flowing in this stream. It is obviously seen that these dangerous factors of the tailing pond mud are not only for underground waters but at the same time they are very danger for agricultural land and sea because of reaching to there.

The settlement areas had been visited, public health problems had been talked and discussed with the residents, Lefke Municipality Minister had been visited and importance of the subject and precautions had been investigated. Ideas on improvements, advertisement needs and suggestions had been indicated.

 

C- RESULTS OF THE INVESTIGATION REGARDING TO PUBLIC HEALTH

 

The fundamental factor in mining of valuable metals such as gold, silver, copper etc. is separation of the metal from rock. The aim of  the separation for all kinds of separation methods is deposition of metal as elemental form from its salt mixtures.

Unfortunately, all other heavy metals in the ore are also separated as valuable metals during  the separation process. These heavy metals transform from salt mixtures to elemental form and become mobile. This mobility is more effective in cyanide leaching method than the others.


RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SOME CARSINOGEN  HEAVY METALS IN LEFKE COPPER TAILING POND AND HEALTH

 

Type of Carcinogen Heavy Metal

(X) Measured Amount At Tailing Pond ppm

Permitted amount at tailing

 ppm

Permitted amount at drinking water ppm

Permitted amount at fish ppm

Permitted amount at irrigation water ppm

Effect of chronic exposure in human to heavy metals in case of reaching of heavy metals to drink water, fish and public

Sandy Soil

Clay Soil

Cadmium

Range:1.0-1.5

Average:1.2

1.0

0.01

0.1

0.05

2

Prostatic cancer, lung cancer,

Kidney failure, bone fracture.

Lead

Range:11.3-82.8

Average:34.8

5.0

0.05

0.5

0.2

20

Lung cancer, intestinal track cancer, kidney cancer, to destroying into brain tissue, damages of eyes , kıdneysand muscles, aborted birth.

Chrome

Range:9.5-59.6

Average:32.2

5.0

0.05

0.5

5

20

İntestinal track cancer

 

 

Zinc

Range:43-110

Average:77.8

5.0

5

60

5

10

Cancer of all kinds, dermatologic diseases, respiratory irritation and pneumonia.

 

Arsenic

Not analyzed

5.0

0.01

10

1

10

Cancers of skin, lung, blood and lymphatic systems, anemi, heart disease, kidney failure and aborted birth.

 

Mercury

Not analyzed

0.2

0.001

0.05

0.05

0.5

Cancers in animals, respiratory diffievlty, parkinson disease, pulmoner eudemia, uremy, hemorrhage.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Table: Carcinogen Heavy Metal on Leaves                                                                            Carcinogen Heavy Metal on Soil

 

 

Location of Sampling

and Type of Vegetable

 

Zn

(ppm)

Cr

(ppm)

Cd

(ppm)

Pb

(ppm)

Ni

(ppm)

 

Depth

Zn

(ppm)

Cr

(ppm)

Cd

(ppm)

Pb

(ppm)

Azer Baycan

 

 

 

 

 

 

0-10

217,5

11,3

1,17

16,3

Leaf of mandarin

15,0

6,0

0,90

14,5

5,3

 

10-28

132,5

9,2

1,02

12,5

Altan Öksüz

 

 

 

 

 

 

0-14

92,5

11,5

0,93

45,0

Leaf of orange

10,0

26,0

0,95

16,49

4,9

 

14-40

92,5

20,3

1,12

23,8

Mehmet Özakdenizli

 

 

 

 

 

 

0-14

87,5

25,9

1,07

22,5

Leaf of bean

27,0

2,0

0,48

22,5

5,3

 

14-33

80,0

4,5

0,78

11,3

Özdemir Şamlıdağ

 

 

 

 

 

 

0-14

67,5

22,3

0,76

27,5

Leaf of cabbage

17,0

4,0

0,55

7,3

3,5

 

14-32

55,5

2,3

1,85

26,3

 

The measurements were analyzed in Ege University Faculty of Agriculture Department of Soil by Prof.Dr. Ünal ALTINBAŞ on 2nd March 1999

 


            Another known geological information is that valuable metal ores such as gold, silver, copper etc. have also other metals in high amount. There are many mines all around the world but they must obey some rules in view of public health, otherwise public health is damaged extremely. Some rules for mining are as follows: being far away from settlements and underground waters, being regardless in view of agriculture, tourist and environment, having waste treatment ponds, to be taken necessary hygienic precautions, having impermeable bed provided by thick clay geomembrane in storage. Mining must be operative correctly. Since carcinogen heavy metals being together with valuable metals such as gold, silver, copper etc. dissolve with them and become mobile and then can pass from this dangerous pond mud to underground water, air, environment, bird etc. In fact, the end point reached from all kinds of  contaminations is human and major concern is human’s chronic exposure. In other way, residents, living there, drinking its water, eating its animals and vegetables will have some systematical diseases and cancers in average 10 years or above. At the enclosed table, the carcinogen heavy metals passing from the ores to human by water and other ways and the diseases caused by them are illustrated. It should be defined immediately, arsenic and mercury are the most dense metals among them reaching to human. There are many articles on increasing in cancers and chronic diseases resulted of arsenic and mercury. Even mine ends and/or is closed, due to presence of  heavy metals, which are not decomposed, and not degraded, mobil, and as a wakeful giant, public health problems continue 50years even 100 tears later. Therefore if these mines are near to settlements, they must not be operated and must be waited until the new methods are found. It is obviously seen at the enclosed tables. Zinc (Zn), chrome (Cr), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), nickel (Ni), in the water, leaf and soil samples collected form Lefke abandoned copper mine and around had been analyzed but analysis of arsenic and mercury had not been able to done. Although arsenic and mercury are the most important metals among them, they could not be analyzed since special equipments. Treatments and attention are necessary during the sampling of arsenic and mercury. Therefore, it hade been decided that to analyze arsenic and mercury at KKTC state Laboratory instead of Ege University. 

 

            Investigated carcinogen heavy metals at tailing ponds and on the residents’ land, fruit, vegetable the standard limits. Lead, chrome, cadmium and zinc had been analyzed form the samples collected form the tailing pond, and their values had been found high. Another carcinogen heavy metal Nickel (Ni) had been also analyzed and its values had been determined also high. As cadmium, being together with Zinc (Zn), chrome (Cr) and lead (Pb) on rural settlement, had been stated less amount then them, but others () had been found too much. Furthermore, sandy soil formation up to 50 % in ratio of the land is determined by Prof.Dr. Ünal ALTINBAS’s analysis and the limit value had been lowered for such land composition. Because, passing rate and amount of heavy metal of sandy land to underground water is high.

 

            CONCLUSIONS 

 

            Tailing Ponds of Lefke Copper Mines had been built very  primitive technology and they have very dangerous character. Tailing amount has a huge emission level and covers a large area. Deposition of high amount of carcinogen heavy metals in tailing, irrigation waters, rural settlements and vegetable- fruit leaves had been sated. The area is contaminated by carcinogen heavy metals, therefore residents consuming water, fruits, vegetables, meat, milk of that area expose to cancers and chronic disease. In order to overcome this danger which negatively effects the human health and which will continue  for al long time, the necessary actions for improvements and advertisement must be started as soon as possible.

 

 

 

 

 

REFERENCES

 

1 – Kıbrıs Türk İşçi Birlikleri Federasyonu ;06 Haziran 1963 tarihli ve bila sayı resmi yazısı.

 

2 - Kıbrıs Türk İşçi Birlikleri Federasyonnu ;  26.07.1967  tarih  ve  S.3907-4 / 65 ( 14 ) sayılı

     yazısına ek , 25 Temmuz 1967 tarihli  Dr. Fazıl KÜÇÜK   Başkanlığındaki Değerlendirme

     Raporu.

 

3 – Kıbrıs Tarım Dairesi ve Tarım Araştırma Enstitüsü  ;  Lefke Yöresinde  Maden Tozunun

      Ağaçlar Üzerinde Yaptığı Etkiyi Araştırmakla Görevlendirilen Komitenin Raporu, 1970.

 

4 – Lefke Çevre ve Tanıtma Derneği ; 9 Haziran 1999 tarih ve bila sayılı resmi yazısı.

      (  Devlet Bakanı  ve  Başbakan Yardımcısı Mustafa AKINCI’ ya hitabeden  yazı. )

 

5 – KKTC Devlet Labratuarı Müdürlüğü  ; 28.10.1999 tarih ve D.Lab.  No : 2099-00/99-Ç.A.

      8/99-24440, 2273-75/99 , 2370-72/99 , 4244-46/99 sayılı ve tahlil sonuçlarına dayalı rapor.

 

6 – DOĞAN , F  :  Uygulamalı Çevre Bilimi ve Çevre Epidemiyolojisi .  I. Baskı ,

      Ege Üniversitesi ÖSYO Yayın no ; 1 , Ege Üniversitesi Matbaası , İzmir, 1988.

 

7 – WHO : Evalvation of  the  Carcinogenic Risks to Humans. IARC Monographs,

      Volume : 1 – 42  Suplement ; 7 , Lyon ,France , 1987.

 

8 – WHO , UNEP , IARC : Environmental Carcinogens. Volume : 8 – Some Metals : As, Be,

      Cd, Cr, Ni, Pd, Se, Zn, IARC No : 71 , Lyon , France , 1986.