Environmental Assessment
Volume B-5.4
Mine
Human and Ecological Health
Ambatovy Project
371
January 2006
area. Fish may be a very important element in nutrition for certain local
populations. At some areas (Ampitambe and Sakalava) people often eat fish
daily between mid-April and mid-February (Volume K, Social Appendices).
Table 5.4-1 Water Quality Parameters Expected to Change During Mine
Operations at Clarification Pond Outlets
Substances
Antsahalava
River Outlet
Sahaviara
River Outlet
Sahamarirana
River Outlet
Torotorofotsy
River Outlet
Sakalava
River Outlet
Ankaja
River Outlet
fluoride
X
sodium
X
X
sulphate
X
X
X
X
X
X
arsenic
X
X
X
X
X
X
barium
X
X
X
X
X
X
chromium
X
X
X
X
X
X
molybdenum
X
X
X
X
X
X
selenium
X
X
X
X
X
X
thallium
X
X
X
X
X
X
zinc
X
X
Note: “X” represents a predicted potential change during operations of more than 10% in relation to the baseline conditions,
see Volume I, Appendix 9.2 for details.
Soil Quality
Chemicals released during mine operation can be deposited onto soil and people
can accidentally ingest or be in contact with soil if it is transported off-site.
People can also inhale dust particles generated from those potentially impacted
soils.
Produce Quality
Rural livelihoods are largely based on subsistence agriculture, predominantly rice
and manioc (Volume K, Appendix 3.1, Land Use). Potential changes to soil
quality due to deposition of airborne contaminants could lead to increase of
chemicals in vegetables through root or foliar uptake.
Properties of Cobalt
During consultation, a question was posed regarding the extraction of cobalt, the
perceived radioactive properties of this mineral and its potential health risks
(Volume A, Section 6). However, the primary form of radioactive cobalt is
synthesized (i.e., does not occur naturally) for commercial and medical purposes,
and does not pose a natural radioactive hazard. In other words, an individual is
rarely exposed to radioactive cobalt unless undergoing radiation therapy
(ATSDR 2004). There is no valid impact pathway between cobalt levels and
