High levels of the heavy metal manganese have been detected in people living in the Indigenous community of Angurugu, near the world's biggest manganese mine.
The Anindilyakwa Land Council, which represents traditional owners on remote Groote Eylandt in the Northern Territory, has told the ABC the results have come from a study it commissioned eight years ago after becoming worried about the impact of dust from the South32 Gemco mine.
The land council said it was working with South32, which operates the mine, to reduce dust because of the high levels that were found.
It said the tests on the hair and nails of children and adults living in Angurugu showed "concerning" levels of manganese.
The problem only came to light because a teacher heard about testing and has raised questions about the long-term impacts of manganese exposure.
Teacher Jeff Aschmann told the ABC he became concerned while working in the nearby mainland community of Numbulwar, which Groote Eylandt people regularly visit.
"I've been very concerned and other people have been very concerned in case there is a major impact on the wellbeing, and particularly the cognitive wellbeing of children and adults," he said.
"I'm not pointing the finger at anybody but it seems to defy common sense that the community lives so close to a working mine; I think planning processes have let us down."
The Gemco manganese mine has been operating beside the Angurugu population of 850 people for 50 years, and about another 12...
Read Full Story: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-12-07/manganese-mine-indigenous-community/100676998
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