The accumulation of heavy metals and metalloids in soil represents a risk for exposure to humans as well as animal and plant life. The main industrial mining areas in the Copperbelt and Kabwe are extensively contaminated. The available evidence suggests that the two principal soil contaminants in the Copperbelt are copper and cobalt. The outdoor soils and indoor dust in Kabwe are significantly contaminated with lead.

The principal means of soil contamination are dust deposition and wash outs from mine waste repositories (dams and dumps).

There are several environmental and health dangers posed by soil contaminated by heavy metals and metalloids in the mining areas:

	Direct contact with contaminated soil and materials through scavenging and cultivation activities in contaminated areas such as on or near mine waste dumps;
	Consumption of food grown in contaminated areas.
	Copper overexposure can damage the red blood cells, lungs, liver and pancreas;
	Many plants are sensitive to even modest concentrations of copper, e.g., copper’s toxicity to fungi and algae accounts for the widespread use of copper-based compounds as fungicides and wood preservatives;
	High copper and cobalt concentrations can affect the fertility of soil;

Soil Contamination Possible Mitigation Measures

Some possible ways to mitigate soil contamination are as follows:

	Excavation of the contaminated surface soils and disposal to an appropriate waste management site;
	Capping of the contaminated areas with a clean soil cover;
	Isolation of contaminated areas;
	Provision of vegetation cover to minimise the generation of dust caused by wind erosion;
	Liming to reduce uptake of contaminants in surface water;
	Education and information campaigns to equip local populations to protect themselves from exposure to metals in contaminated soils. Indeed, a comprehensive Risk Communication Programme (RCP) is a key component of CEP’s Kabwe Lead Project.