mineral contamination from cemetery soils case study of zandfontein cemetery, south africa矿物公墓的污染土壤zandfontein公墓的案例研究表明,南非.pdfVIP

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2012, 9, 511-520; doi:10.3390/ijerph9020511 OPEN ACCESS International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ISSN 1660-4601 /journal/ijerph Article Mineral Contamination from Cemetery Soils: Case Study of Zandfontein Cemetery, South Africa Cornelia Jonker * and Jana Olivier Department of Environmental Sciences, University of South Africa, P.O. Box X6, Florida 1710, South Africa; E-Mail: jana1@mweb.co.za * Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: jonkecz@unisa.ac.za; Tel.: +27-12-543-0185. Received: 3 January 2012; in revised form: 16 January 2012 / Accepted: 17 January 2012 / Published: 7 February 2012 Abstract: The burial of coffins may pose an environmental and health hazard since the metals that are used in coffin-making may corrode or degrade into harmful toxins. These may leach into the surrounding soils and groundwater. Very little research has been conducted world-wide on the mineral contamination potential of cemeteries, and virtually none in South Africa. The aim of the study is to determine whether burial practices affect the mineral content of soils in cemeteries. This was done by comparing the mineral concentrations of soils within the Zandfontein Cemetery in Tshwane (Gauteng, South Africa) to those off-site as w