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Potential Environmental and Health Impacts of
Burning Coal in Witbank Coalfield, South Africa

published in ERSEC Ecological Book Series – 4, 2007 

Spontaneous combustion of coal in Witbank Coalfield, South Africa was studied in order to determine the extent of toxic chemical elements released into the environment. Samples of gas emissions from vents were analyzed to investigate the presence of these elements. Relatively high concentrations of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX) were found in the samples. Analogous concentrations of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and methane, in addition to a variety of hydrocarbons, were detected. BTEX are the elements with major, potentially hazardous, impact on human health and the environment around coal fire sites. Fires caused by spontaneous combustion of coal are pervasive in Witbank Coalfield. Health problems because
of exposure to hazardous elements are a serious risk. It would be prudent for the South African government to conduct an environmental impact assessment of these elements in order to determine the magnitude of their impact on mineworkers’ health and the environment in Witbank Coalfield.