Highly toxic metals are leaking out of nine abandoned mines in Krugersdorp, 32km west of Johannesburg, South Africa. The metals include uranium, arsenic, cadmium, chromium and mercury.
This acid mine drainage – when water mixes with heavy metals in mines and then flows out into the environment – poses grave health risks. It can percolate through the soil in large quantities and end up in the groundwater, or get into rivers.
Acid mine drainage also dries out on the surface and then blows around as toxic dust. It can cause serious illness including cancer, kidney failure and asthma.
