Environmental Assessment
Volume E-5.4
Tailings Facility
Human and Ecological Health
Ambatovy Project
216
January 2006
5.4
HUMAN AND ECOLOGICAL HEALTH
5.4.1
Introduction
The health assessment for the tailings facility area focuses on potential changes
in water quality and possible associated effects on human and aquatic life health
both during and after the operation stage. The potential impact on water quality
resulting from effluent drainage relative to drinking water for people and
livestock and on local economic activities such as crops, subsistence agriculture
and fishing were evaluated. Also, aquatic and terrestrial organisms may be
affected if water quality is impacted.
5.4.2
Study Area
The tailings facility study area for health assessment encompasses water bodies
(rivers, ponds, streams and wetlands) within the drainage basins which may
potentially be influenced by the tailings facility (Figure 7.2-3 in Volume A,
Section 7, EA Methods and Study Areas).
5.4.3
Baseline Summary
A detailed description of the methods used for the screening level health
assessment and its results are found in Volume K, Appendix 4.1. A short
summary is provided below.
5.4.3.1 Methods and Main Results
Human Health
The baseline assessment focused on ingestion of drinking water and fish, and the
potential risks to critical receptors.
Manganese was the only chemical considered of potential concern in drinking
water. This arose because one sample collected during the wet season (out of
16 samples collected during the wet season and 13 during the dry season) had a
concentration above the World Health Organization (WHO 2004) drinking water
guidelines. The average manganese concentration did not exceed guidelines.
Levels of elements within fish tissue met recommended values for fish
consumption suggesting that their ingestion as a regular food resource by people
is unlikely to cause negative health effects.
