Background
Mining and mineral processing are major sources of revenue in many African countries. They account for 80% of foreign exports in Zambia and 45% in Zimbabwe. Mining is also one of the most dangerous professions. Potential environmental effects of mining and mineral processing include exposure to metals such as arsenic, lead, and mercury, and other pollutants such as sulfur dioxide. Through a unique cooperative program involving the UA Zuckerman College of Public Health and the UA Department of Mining and Geological Engineering, our program is training scientists from this region to evaluate and control adverse health effects due to mining and mineral processing.

1. Train African scientists in environmental and occupational health, mining engineering, industrial hygiene, and epidemiology at the master's level at the University of Arizona.
2. Provide regional training in occupational health, mine safety, mining engineering, and community evaluation.
3. Conduct in-country research including dust and metals exposure, engineering controls and personal respirators, respiratory health, genetic susceptibility, injury epidemiology and community exposure evaluation and intervention.

Program design
The University of Arizona is partnering with the University of Zambia and University of Zimbabwe. Scientists from these nations are being trained at the University of Arizona in industrial hygiene. Participants from surrounding nations are being invited to participate in regional training. Research will be carried out in Zambia and Zimbabwe by the trainees. The program focus includes occupational health in mining operations, mine safety, and environmental exposures and adverse health effects in communities surrounding these mining operations.

Funding by
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
National Institutes of Health:
John E. Fogarty International Center
and the
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health