Bauxite mining activities in Felda Bukit Goh, Kuantan, has been in operation since early 2013. The uncontrolled min- ing activities created dusty environment which led to health complaints from the surrounding residence. The mining activities had also caused anxiety and stress among the community due the noise which disturb their well-being and their sleep (1). The objectives of this study were to determine and relate selected heavy metal levels (As, Cd, Cr, Ni, Pb and Al) in the dust in the classrooms of a school located near to the mines with the respiratory health symptoms reported by the parents of the selected school children. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 121 students randomly selected from the Primary 4 and 5 clusters. Questionnaires were used to collect information on their back- ground and their respiratory health symptoms. Environmental sampling for 16 dust samples consisted two samples (window and corridors) from each of the eight classes (four from each Primary 4 and 5) were collected using 400W vacuum cleaner with special filter from these classrooms. The dust samples were analyzed using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). Results showed that the levels of heavy metal in the dust were high in both the Primary 5 and Primary 4 classes. The mean heavy metal levels in the dust from the classroom area varied signifi- cantly and decreased in the order of: Al > Cr > Ni > Pb > As > Cd. The mean ranges were as follows: Al (39360.15- 110824.1 mg/kg); Cr (2364.84- 4726.009 mg/kg); Ni (699.9606-1443.36 mg/kg); Pb (434.3067- 1650.76 mg/kg); As
(200.7891-454.7241 mg/kg); and Cd (10.9107-34.9902 mg/kg) respectively. The levels were higher at the corridor than the window. Nasal congestion (45.5%) was the highest respiratory symptoms experienced by the school chil- dren. There was a significant correlation between the respiratory health symptoms reported with absenteeism in the year 2015 when the mining activities were at the peak. There was a significant correlation between dust Pb levels with respiratory reported symptoms of the school children. Other risk factors which contributed to the respiratory symptoms reported were the close location of their houses to the mining areas, young age and low family income.
To achieve rapid economic development, many countries including Malaysia resort various activities to exploit nat- ural sources such as mining. As a consequence, mining are an important economic activity which has the potential to contribute to the development of areas endowed with the ore. Studies have been carried out in countries where the impact were on the environment and health. However, fewer studies have been carried out on the effects of min- ing on health especially the children. This paper provides a review of the process description, properties of bauxite, bauxite production and the potential health effects of heavy metals from mining ores on children’s health. The aims of this article are to evaluate the most frequently reported effect towards health and heavy metals levels in biomark- ers such as blood, urine, hair and toenail among children mining areas. Respiratory problems were most commonly reported effects associated with mining activities. Heavy metals such as lead, aluminum, chromium, nickel are also elevated from normal levels due to mining activities. Specific mitigated measures need to be taken in order to solve the problems and protect the public health especially children as they are vulnerable and represent the non-occupa- tionally exposed population.