A report on an investigation of environmental-health risks for developing low- to- moderate income housing on the city of Johannesburg's South former mining sites along the Main Reef Road

摘要

AbstractudThis research focuses on developing former mining sites situated in the south of the Cityudof Johannesburg that are contaminated with radon gas. This well-located land would beudsuitable for development of houses for low – to – moderate-income earners, preferablyudthose living +10km away from the city centre. Former mining land has been developed inudother countries both in Europe and in America. The results from international experienceudshows that houses had been developed on sites contaminated with radon and people hadudlived longer than 35 years without contracting lung cancer. The literature reviewedudreveals that radon is the world’s second greatest cause of lung cancer after cigaretteudsmoke. There are local and international norms and standards that development of landudcontaminated with radon should adhere too. In South Africa, the National NuclearudRegulator (NNR) sets the norms and standards for development of land contaminatedudwith radon in which compliance with international norms and standards has beenudpredetermined. Utilisation of the former mining land south of the City of Johannesburgudwill reduce development of houses at the periphery and will bring people closer toudemployment opportunities, amenities, transportation, services and facilities required forudsustainable housing environment. Radon-contaminated land was visited, and surveysudwere administered to get different opinions from people who are close to mine dumps andudthose who are far from the Central Business District. The results show that people areudinterested and prepared to take the risk of living in areas contaminated with radon. TheudCity of Johannesburg’s former mining land should therefore be considered to meet theudgoals of housing units. Therefore, former mining land should in future be developed for housing purposes, provided approval has been granted by the relevant governmentuddepartments.