Abstract:
Arsenic-based compounds have been used for cattle dipping for about half a century to combat East Coast
Fever in cattle in South Africa. The government introduced a compulsory dipping programme in communal
areas to eradicate the disease in 1911. Concern has been raised regarding the ecological legacy of the
use of arsenic-based compounds in these areas. We investigated the incidence of arsenic residue in soil
at 10 dip sites in the Vhembe district of Limpopo Province, South Africa. We found high levels of arsenic
contamination at a depth of 300 mm at some sites. Control samples indicated that these high arsenic levels
are the result of the application of inorganic arsenic. Variation of arsenic concentrations is attributed to
duration of exposure to the chemical, soil properties and distance from the dip tank. Concerns are raised
regarding the structural condition of the dip tanks, encroaching villages and possible health threats to the
human population in the area.
