Linking Geological and Health Sciences to Assess Childhood Lead Poisoning from Artisanal Gold Mining in Nigeria

Plumlee, Geoffrey S.; Durant, James T.; Morman, Suzette A.; Neri, Antonio; Wolf, Ruth E.; Dooyema, Carrie A.; Hageman, Philip L.; Lowers, Heather A.; Fernette, Gregory L.; Meeker, Gregory P.; Benzel, William M.; Driscoll, Rhonda L.; Berry, Cyrus J.; Crock, J.G.; Goldstein, Harland L.; Adams, Monique; Bartrem, Casey; Tirima, Simba; Behbod, Behrooz; Lindern, Ian von; Brown, Mary Jean

doi:10.1289/ehp.1206051

Cited by 91 publications

(72 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…Aside from these potentials, without efficient data infrastructure to gauge the viability of vast deposits of precious metals precisely from gold exploitation only, it is projected that Nigeria loses $50 billion year after year [5]. Lost in all these is the danger of overlooking the environmental externalities based on human-nature interactions associated with mining such as lead poisoning, air and water pollution and other risks across Nigeria [6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing the Ecological Effects of Mining in West Africa: The Case of Nigeria

Merem¹,

Twumasi²,

Wesley³

et al. 2017

mining

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Nigeria's abundant solid minerals constitute some of the largest known deposits in recent years under different categories. With the activities in the sector characterized by production and a growing environmental decline often overlooked. This research uses a mix scale approach of descriptive statistics and GIS methodology in analyzing the ecological impacts of mining in Nigeria. Emphases are on the issues, environmental and spatial analysis of the trends, factors associated with the issues and current efforts. The results not only reveal large deposits and changes in production, Nigeria's mineral deposits showed continual growth much of the time despite a few declines. area left with green cover. The other burden of pollution risks involves the 1,000 abandoned mine ponds, alongside 1,100-4,000 tin and columbite mines left behind from the mining booms of past eras in the 1960s and spread all over Jos, Plateau. These threats are compounded further by the 400 fatalities from lead poisoning triggered by illegal quarrying in Zamfara in 2010. The GIS mapping of the trends showed clusters of areas prone to hazards and the dispersion of solid mineral potentials in the nation with the impacts linked to socio-economic elements. For mitigation, the study offered suggestions ranging from education to regular assessment of ecological liabilities and the need for policy enhancement.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing the Ecological Effects of Mining in West Africa: The Case of Nigeria

Merem¹,

Twumasi²,

Wesley³

et al. 2017

mining

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“…1 Gold ore processing became common in Zamfara after gold prices rose during the 2008–2012 global economic recession. 2 Lack of emission controls during processing, and the co-occurrence of gold ore with bioaccessible lead in the region’s underlying geology caused extensive contamination of villages. By March 2010, >l400 children had died and >2,000 children were left permanently disabled from inhalation and ingestion of lead particulates.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…13 Subsistence gold mining using low-technology methods such as manual ore grinding and liquid mercury amalgamation accounts for an estimated 20–30% of global gold production and is an important potential source of environmental contamination, and Zamfara’s underlying geology makes subsistence gold mining in this region particularly hazardous. 2,14 …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Elevated Blood Lead in Children in Gold Ore Processing Communities, Zamfara, Nigeria, 2012

Kaufman

Brown

Umar-Tsafe

et al. 2016

Journal of Health and Pollution

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Background In March 2010, Medecins Sans Frontieres/Doctors Without Borders detected an outbreak of acute lead poisoning in Zamfara State, northwestern Nigeria, linked to low-technology gold ore processing. The outbreak killed more than 400 children ≤5 years of age in the first half of 2010 and has left more than 2,000 children with permanent disabilities. Objectives The aims of this study were to estimate the statewide prevalence of children ≤5 years old with elevated blood lead levels (BLLs) in gold ore processing and non-ore-processing communities, and to identify factors associated with elevated blood lead levels in children. Methods A representative, population-based study of ore processing and non-ore-processing villages was conducted throughout Zamfara in 2012. Blood samples from children, outdoor soil samples, indoor dust samples, and survey data on ore processing activities and other lead sources were collected from 383 children ≤5 years old in 383 family compounds across 56 villages. Results 17.2% of compounds reported that at least one member had processed ore in the preceding 12 months (95% confidence intervals (CI): 9.7, 24.7). The prevalence of BLLs ≥10 µg/dL in children ≤5 years old was 38.2% (95% CI: 26.5, 51.4) in compounds with members who processed ore and 22.3% (95% CI: 17.8, 27.7) in compounds where no one processed ore. Ore processing activities were associated with higher lead concentrations in soil, dust, and blood samples. Other factors associated with elevated BLL were a child’s age and sex, breastfeeding, drinking water from a piped tap, and exposure to eye cosmetics. Conclusions Childhood lead poisoning is widespread in Zamfara State in both ore processing and non-ore-processing settings, although it is more prevalent in ore processing areas. Although most children’s BLLs were below the recommended level for chelation therapy, environmental remediation and use of safer ore processing practices are needed to prevent further exposures. Patient consent Obtained Ethics approval The study protocol was approved by the US Centers for Disease Control Institutional Review Board-A and the National Health Research Ethics Committee of Nigeria. Competing Interests The authors declare no competing financial interests.

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“…In recent years, small-scale gold mining in Zamfara State in northern Nigeria was responsible for poisoning thousands of children and contaminating entire villages as lead-containing ore was processed and stored in and around residential structures. (10) In such environments that are typical in ASGM, there are no clear distinctions between occupational and environmental exposures.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%