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Multidisciplinary field research in Kabwe, Zambia, towards better understanding of lead contamination of the city - A short report from a field survey

Yoshitaka Uchida, Kawawa Banda, Imasiku Nyambe, Toru Hamamoto, Yui Yoshii, Kabenuka Munthali, Mukuka Mwansa, Moses Mukuka, Mubanga Mutale, John Yabe, Haruya Toyomaki, Yohannes Yared Beyene, Shouta M. M. Nakayama, Nobuyasu Naruse, Mayumi Ishizuka, Yukihiro Takahashi
doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/096164
Yoshitaka Uchida
1Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, Japan
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Kawawa Banda
2School of Mines, University of Zambia, Zambia
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Imasiku Nyambe
2School of Mines, University of Zambia, Zambia
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Toru Hamamoto
1Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, Japan
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Yui Yoshii
1Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, Japan
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Kabenuka Munthali
3School of Agricultural Sciences, University of Zambia, Zambia
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Mukuka Mwansa
3School of Agricultural Sciences, University of Zambia, Zambia
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Moses Mukuka
2School of Mines, University of Zambia, Zambia
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Mubanga Mutale
2School of Mines, University of Zambia, Zambia
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John Yabe
4School of Veterinary Medicine, The University of Zambia, Zambia
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Haruya Toyomaki
5Laboratory of Toxicology, Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Japan
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Yohannes Yared Beyene
5Laboratory of Toxicology, Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Japan
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Shouta M. M. Nakayama
5Laboratory of Toxicology, Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Japan
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Nobuyasu Naruse
6Faculty of Medicine, Shiga University of Medical Science, Japan
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Mayumi Ishizuka
5Laboratory of Toxicology, Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Japan
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Yukihiro Takahashi
7Space Mission Center (SMC), Creative Research Institution (CRIS), Hokkaido University
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Abstract

Heavy metal contamination is a serious issue in many post-mining regions around the world. Kabwe town, Zambia, is known as one of the most polluted cities in the world, where high lead (Pb) levels have been reported in soils, plants, animals and human blood. Multidisciplinary approaches are critically needed to understand the current situation and to remediate the polluted area. In the current research, a large-scale preliminary field survey was performed to understand the current situation in Kabwe and to plan future mitigation approaches. Three aspects were mainly observed; 1) plant communities during the dry season in Kabwe city, 2) spectral images of the land surfaces in various locations in Kabwe and 3) Pb concentrations in soils and water. Overall, >15 different plant species were observed and many of them maintained their green colour even during the dry season. Some tree species, for example, Caesalpiniaceae and Fabaceae families may be utilised as phytostabilization approaches although their impacts on the soil Pb mobility should be further studied. For the spectral images, we used a handmade portable spectrometer, and our obtained spectral images showed typical curves observed from soils. These data may be used to understand the distribution of different soil types in this area, using aboveground images such as satellite images. For Pb concentrations in soils, extremely high total Pb levels (>1,000 ppm) was observed only within 2 km from the mining site. There was a weak but a positive correlation between the total and soluble Pb thus further study should also focus on the mobility of Pb from soils to plant ecosystems.

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Posted May 01, 2017.
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Multidisciplinary field research in Kabwe, Zambia, towards better understanding of lead contamination of the city - A short report from a field survey
Yoshitaka Uchida, Kawawa Banda, Imasiku Nyambe, Toru Hamamoto, Yui Yoshii, Kabenuka Munthali, Mukuka Mwansa, Moses Mukuka, Mubanga Mutale, John Yabe, Haruya Toyomaki, Yohannes Yared Beyene, Shouta M. M. Nakayama, Nobuyasu Naruse, Mayumi Ishizuka, Yukihiro Takahashi
bioRxiv 096164; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/096164
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Multidisciplinary field research in Kabwe, Zambia, towards better understanding of lead contamination of the city - A short report from a field survey
Yoshitaka Uchida, Kawawa Banda, Imasiku Nyambe, Toru Hamamoto, Yui Yoshii, Kabenuka Munthali, Mukuka Mwansa, Moses Mukuka, Mubanga Mutale, John Yabe, Haruya Toyomaki, Yohannes Yared Beyene, Shouta M. M. Nakayama, Nobuyasu Naruse, Mayumi Ishizuka, Yukihiro Takahashi
bioRxiv 096164; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/096164

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