The Source of Lead Poisoning

The source of the epidemic was artisanal gold mining that became prolific in 2009-10. For several months, ore processing was conducted at numerous sites within the villages. Because local religious and cultural practices include the sequestration of married women, ore crushing, washing, and gold recovery were undertaken within homes to utilize the women's labor. During the rapid increase in mining activities, a dangerous gold ore exceeding 10% lead was introduced. By April 2010, with death and illness prevalent, the local Emirates ordered a temporary suspension of artisanal ore processing and later required that all operations be moved approximately outside the villages. However, extremely hazardous waste and contaminated soils remained in the residences and communal areas.

 

MSF/TG focused on emergency medical treatment and environmental response. MSF, ZMOH, and FMOH developed village chelation therapy clinics. All entities agreed that children could not live in contaminated homes as it would compromise the treatment. Coupled with local resistance to relocation, this required the villages to be remediated prior to commencing chelation.

 

Remediation Activities

 

Remediation continued over three and one-half years in three phases, encompassing 8 villages and 17,000 residents.

 

Phase I Remediation was an emergency response in two villages (Dareta and Yargalma). While MSF and ZMOH established village clinics and implemented treatment protocols, TG and ZMOE developed emergency remediation protocols appropriate to local resources. The work was conducted by ZMOE with TG providing technical guidance. By September 2010, remediation and relocation of mining activities had reduced the average blood lead level of children entering treatment from 173 µg/dL to 86 µg/dL. 

 

• June 2010-July 2011

• Funding: Zamfara State, TG, Blacksmith Institute (BI), and MSF

• 148 Homes remediated

• Exposures reduced for >2,100 residents

• Allowed MSF to treat >100 children

 

Phase II Remediation addressed five villages (Abare, Duza, Sunke, Tungar Daji, and Tungar Guru) resident to 6,385 people. During Phase II, further investigation by the CDC and Nigerian authorities suggested that artisanal gold mining was occurring in other areas and significant lead contamination was confirmed in more than 30 villages. Another study revealed water quality problems related to the mining activities.

 

Additional surveys conducted by TG and ZMOE found extensive contamination in Bagega Village, where 1,500 children under age five were at severe risk for lead poisoning. An adjacent abandoned processing site (Industrial Area) had more than 8,700 cubic meters of high concentration lead waste extending into the main water reservoir serving the region. 

 

• October 2011 - March 2011

• Funding: United Nations (UN) Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), Zamfara State, TG, and BI

• Exposures reduced for >6300 people

• Allowed MSF to treat >1,200 children

 

Phase III commenced following 18 months of advocacy encouraging the Nigerian federal government to complete the remediation in Bagega. TerraGraphics International Foundation (TIFO), the non-profit humanitarian successor to TG, was retained to provide remediation oversight when funding was released in February 2013. Efforts are ongoing by the Nigerian governments and the affected communities to sustain the remedy and adopt safer mining techniques.

 

• February - July 2013

• Funding: Nigerian Federal Government

• 352 homes, 54 public areas, the Industrial Area, the contaminated reservoir remediated

• Exposures reduced for >7,000 residents

• Allowed MSF to treat >650 children