Abstract
Little is known about the arsenic contamination of soil in relation to water in South Africa. In fact, there is a gap in knowledge about the topic as far as Africa as a whole is concerned. This chapter addresses the limited information on the presence and threat of arsenic in South Africa’s environment. The focus of this chapter is on soil (and indirectly water) contamination in the former Venda tribal area in northeastern South Africa where for many decades the apartheid government used arsenic-based dip solutions to treat East Coast Fever among cattle. Soil samples taken at 5-m, 20-m and 100-m at a depth of 300-mm from 10 old dip tanks revealed 11 readings above 2.0 mg/kg and 2 readings above 30 mg/kg. We found that these old contaminated dip sites were not rehabilitated and that houses are now being built as close as 50-m from the centers of contamination. It is clear that the problem of arsenic contamination of soil and water in South Africa, a water scarce country, deserve more attention from researchers and the various levels of government.
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Notes
- 1.
Higy and Cordey (2011) (Benin); Huntsman-Mapila et al. (2006), and Mladenov et al. (2013) (Botswana); Smedley et al. (2007), Somé et al. (2012), Nzihou et al. (2013), and Ouédraogo and Amyot (2013) (Burkina Faso); Abdel-Moati (1990) (Egypt); Reimann et al. (2003), Rango et al. (2010, 2013), and Dsikowitzky et al. (2013) (Ethiopia); Amonoo-Neizer and Amekor (1993), Smedley (1996), Smedley et al. (1996), Serfor-Armah et al. (2006), Asante et al. (2007), Baumah et al. (2008), Kortatsi et al. (2008a, b), Akabzaa et al. (2009a, b), Rossiter et al. (2010), Akabzaa and Yidana (2012), Bhattacharya et al. (2012), and Kusimi and Kusimi (2012) (Ghana); Pritchard et al. (2007, 2008) and Mkandawire (2008) (Malawi); El Hachimi et al. (2005, 2007) (Morocco); Asubiojo et al. (1997) and Gbadebo (2005) (Nigeria); Dzoma et al. (2010), Ogola et al. (2011), and Akinsoji et al. (2013) (South Africa); Bowell et al. (1995), Taylor et al. (2005), and Kassenga and Mato (2009) (Tanzania); Rezaie-Boroon et al. (2011) (Togo); and Jannalagadda and Nenzou (1996) (Zimbabwe).
- 2.
See footnote 1.
- 3.
See: Animal Diseases Act 35 of 1984, Animal Diseases Regulations as published by Government Notice No. R. 2026 (1984) and amended by Animal Diseases Regulations: Amended, by Government Notice No. R. 865 (2014).
- 4.
More detail on arsenic related geological formations in Northeast South Africa includes the Mount Dowe Group of the Beitbridge Complex; the Nzhelele, Sibasa and Tshifhefhe Formation of the Soutpansberg Group; the Schiel Complex; the Phalaborwa Complex; the Rooiwater Complex, and the Gravelotte Group (Kempster et al. 2007). The location of these formations are closely connected with the South African greenstone belt starting at the border with Swaziland, reaching northwards to the study area and then turns westwards, covering both sides of the Limpopo river towards the Beitbridge linking South Africa and Zimbabwe.
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Horn, A.C., Ramudzuli, M.R. (2020). Arsenic Contamination of Soil in Relation to Water in Northeastern South Africa. In: Fares, A., Singh, S. (eds) Arsenic Water Resources Contamination. Advances in Water Security. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-21258-2_7
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