Chinese chrome smelters pose health risk for residents

Clive Tatenda Makumbe in Zimbabwe

A number of ferrochrome industries that are burning fossil fuels at Gweru light industries areas are turning the city into a hotspot of air pollution, investigations reveal.

At the same time, the increase of air pollutants now poses a health hazard for residents at ward 4, 10 and 12 (including residents building their homes at Mkoba 21) which comprises of, over 10 000 households.

The waste materials produced by ferrochrome industries are slag, dust and processed water. These wastes have high chromium concentration that cause pollution to the environment, which inhalation is regarded as the major exposure route of the chromium toxicity in people.

Chromium is an essential nutrient for plant and animal metabolism; however, when accumulated at high levels, it can cause serious health problems which include nasal damage, runny nose, asthma, breathing problems and allergies.

The residents have accused authorities of failing to regulate the ferrochrome companies and calls have been made by civil society to enforce the Environmental Management Act by fining or banning the industries, to safeguard the health of residents.

Some of the major ferrochrome companies are Chinese with chrome smelting plants in Gweru’s light industrial areas are Jinan, Xi Yu, Almed and Longsheng.

What really happens during Ferrochrome production pollution?

Ferrochrome production emits air pollution including nitrogen oxides, carbon oxides and sulfur oxides (NOx, COx and SOx).

In addition, some compounds from the ore are emitted as gasses during smelting and then return to solids in the smelter dust. The reductant used in smelting may emit gas phases of arsenic, cadmium, chlorine, lead and sulphur, depending on whether coke, coal or charcoal is used.

Particulate dusts created during ferrochrome production have environmental and occupational health implications. For every tone of ferrochrome created, up to 18-25kg of dust may be created.

Dust collected during production must be treated before disposal in order to prevent the leaching of toxins such as chromium, zinc, lead, nickel and cadmium. Due to the leaching potential of these and other contaminants, ferrochrome arc furnace dust is categorized as toxic waste in Zimbabwe.

Gweru District Ambient Air Quality Latest Report

The Gweru District ambient air quality exercise conducted between 11^th-19^th of August 2022 by Environmental Management Agency (EMA) quantified the ambient airborne particulate matter (PM10), to establish its environmental and public health impacts in Gweru as well as searching if there is environmental room for expansion of the emitting industries.

From the findings, the average PM10 gravimetrically recorded from the 11^th to the 19^th of August 2022 at the station in Mkoba 12 was 54.4 µg/m3 which was 20.9% than the 45 µg/m3 – World Health Organization (WHO) 24hr guideline and 63.7% lower than the 150 µg/m3 – SAZ ZWS 977:2015 24-hour guideline.

The average GLC of PM10 recorded at MASO was 57.1µg/m3 which was 26.9% higher than the 45 µg/m3 – WHO 24-hour guideline and 61.9% lower than the 150µg/m3 – SAZ ZWS 977:2015 24-hour guideline, from all the recordings taken from the 11th to the 19th of August 2022.

Lundi Park PM10 average for all the readings taken from the period 11-19 August 2022 was 22.6 µg/m3 which was 49.8% lower than the 45 µg/m3 – WHO 24hour guideline and 84.9% lower than the 150 µg/m3 – SAZ ZWS 977:2015 24-hour guideline, according to the EMA Air Quality report.

it was preliminarily concluded that, all areas around the Gweru Heavy Industrial Site, whether CBD or residential, are occasionally prone to acceptable air pollution level emanating from the industries as much as chiefly determined by the wind direction amongst other metrological conditions such as radiation, wind speed and atmospheric pressure.

The contribution of other air pollution sources like vehicular exhaust emissions, open burning of waste and unpaved roads was also noted to be significant as the monitoring stations sometimes recorded elevated PM 10 regardless of the wind going in the opposite direction in relation to industrial site location, a scenario yet to be concluded by chemical analysis of the sampled PM.

It was recommended that such assessments, coupled with emissions source data collection, be strategically continued until ample input data is gathered for modelling in order to fully conclude on the status of air pollution in Gweru district.

In a statement released by, EMA Principal Officer, Union Mapwashike, highlighted that, there was pollution in the area.

“Although the wind was coming from North-West on the 12-13th, 14-15th and 16-17th of August 2022, both Mkoba 12 and MASO monitoring station recorded PM10 higher than the WHO 24hr guideline, signifying the impact of other emission sources which were observed in the district, notably vehicular exhaust emissions, open burning of waste and unpaved roads,” he said.

In an interview with Gweru Residents and Ratepayers Association (GRRA) Executive Director Cornilia Selipiwe, he stated that, ferrochrome industries in the area pose a health risk for residents.

“Chinese companies at light industrial areas should be monitored and fined in order to strictly adhere to the environmental and health regulations of the country. Though they provide employment to our community, they need to bare the risks in mind. What is EMA doing.

“Already we have more than 5 000 households to be built at Mkoba 21 and Mkoba 20 extension, which is right across the road from the Chinese industries. Something needs to be done. We are looking at a population of more than 10 000 residents that will be affected health wise,” he said.

Investigations conducted by this publication reflected that residents close to the industries were complaining of the fog smokes emanating from the ferrochrome industries.

In an interview with, Shamiso Masanha a Mkoba 12 resident “This is the growing urban pollution we always complain about to all authorities in Gweru. But our complaints are falling on deaf ears, meaning this urban pollution will continue to worsen. There has to be a serious revolution to end this situation in our towns and cities or else our health will deteriorate further,” Masanha told NGO Africa Watch publication.

Nonetheless, Zimbabwe boasts of having the Environmental Management Act (Chapter 20:27) and the National Environmental Policy in place to protect the country’s environment, in particular fending off pollution like the one being endured by Masanha as she fights for survival through vending at Mkoba 6 shopping center.

Further investigations identified if there were health issues related to the Chinese smelters by searching for a former worker, who once was an operator at a Chinese blast furnace, Issac Chirume (not real name) said workers at the ferrochrome industries were vulnerable to respiratory diseases such as lung cancer, asthmas and nasal bleedings even though they received protective equipment (PPE).

Chirume said he left the job three (3) years ago and is currently battling asthma attacks and nasal bleedings due to the continuous exposure of chromium.

“We were given PPE but it’s not enough to protect yourself against such gases since it is a gradual process of infections. You will realize the effects after years working at the plants, even the money is not worth it, was recommended by my doctors to resign from the job to have longer life,” he said.

In an interview with a medical practitioner, Dr Chengeto Huruva stated that, air pollution poses serious risks on human health with the negative effects of air pollution include: respiratory diseases (asthma, bronchitis, lung inflammation), lung cancer and some heart diseases.

“The exposure of human beings to air pollution also raises morbidity levels as shown by the prevalence of respiratory, lung and heart diseases. Ordinary people, employees and elderly citizens have to endure the negative impacts of air pollution on their health.

“Respiratory diseases force ordinary people to incur medical expenses which they can hardly afford. In rural areas, high morbidity rates reduce agricultural productivity.

“I do have ten (10) to twenty (20) patients that have worked at Chinese companies and residents that live close to these  factories that complain of nasal bleedings, asthma and lung inflammation. The fumes have a serious health risk to people and we believe that preventive and punitive measures, technological adjustments, recycling of waste materials and pollution awareness campaigns can mitigate this in communities,” she said.

When this publication reached Jinan Spokesperson Melody Franks she said: “Can I give the name of the person on the ground, who can help you, because I am not in Gweru at the moment and there are people who are on the ground right now who can assist you.”

Which we were provided the contacts of the General Manager at Jinan, Jessica, which this publication got hold of her but refused to cooperate stating that: “Let me first consult the Safety, Health, Environment and Quality officer and will phone you back,” she stated, but no reply was made nor answered our phone calls, when going to publishing.