Childhood Lead Poisoning Associated with Gold Ore Processing: a Village-Level Investigation—Zamfara State, Nigeria, October–November 2010

Abstract

Background: During May–June 2010, a childhood lead poisoning outbreak related to gold ore processing was confirmed in two villages in Zamfara State, Nigeria. During June–September of that year, villages with suspected or confirmed childhood lead poisoning continued to be identified in Zamfara State.Objectives: We investigated the extent of childhood lead poisoning [≥ 1 child with a blood lead level (BLL) ≥ 10 µg/dL] and lead contamination (≥ 1 soil/dust sample with a lead level > 400 parts per million) among villages in Zamfara State and identified villages that should be prioritized for urgent interventions.Methods: We used chain-referral sampling to identify villages of interest, defined as villages suspected of participation in gold ore processing during the previous 12 months. We interviewed villagers, determined BLLs among children < 5 years of age, and analyzed soil/dust from public areas and homes for lead.Results: We identified 131 villages of interest and visited 74 (56%) villages in three local government areas. Fifty-four (77%) of 70 villages that completed the survey reported gold ore processing. Ore-processing villages were more likely to have ≥ 1 child < 5 years of age with lead poisoning (68% vs. 50%, p = 0.17) or death following convulsions (74% vs. 44%, p = 0.02). Soil/dust contamination and BLL ≥ 45 µg/dL were identified in ore-processing villages only [50% (p < 0.001) and 15% (p = 0.22), respectively]. The odds of childhood lead poisoning or lead contamination was 3.5 times as high in ore-processing villages than the other villages (95% confidence interval: 1.1, 11.3).Conclusion: Childhood lead poisoning and lead contamination were widespread in surveyed areas, particularly among villages that had processed ore recently. Urgent interventions are required to reduce lead exposure, morbidity, and mortality in affected communities.

Geospatial Analysis of Lead Concentration in the Soil of Anka, Zamfara State, Nigeria

“…conducted a study in some locations in Zamfara State and reported high levels of concentration of lead in the soil. Similar studies were conducted by Lo et al (2012) and Udiba et al (2012) where high levels of concentration of lead in soils of Zamfara State were reported. In all these studies, areas of high lead concentration were reported to be part of the areas affected by the Zamfara lead poisoning crisis.…”

“…Human exposure to lead is estimated to account for 143, 000 deaths every year and 0.6% of the global burden of disease (WHO, 2010). Exposure to lead affects multiple health outcomes and physiological systems, including hypertension, the gastrointestinal systems, anaemia, nephropathy, vitamin D metabolism, decreased growth, the immune system, the nervous system, behavioural/cognitive/IQ effects and as a result, multiple social effects including increased risk of violence and drug abuse, nerve conductive effects, hearing loss, effects on reproduction and development, and death from encephalopathy (O'Dwyer, 1998;Tong et al, 2000;Fewtrell et al, 2003 andPruss-Ustun et al, 2004;CDC, 2004 and2005;Battersby, 2008;Mitra et al, 2009;WHO, 2010WHO, , 2011aWHO, and 2011bDooyema et al, 2012;Lo et al, 2012;Udiba et al, 2012).…”

Analysis of a novel field dilution method for testing samples that exceed the analytic range of point-of-care blood lead analyzers

“…A recent investigation in Nigeria revealed over 100 child fatalities related to lead poisoning (Dooyema et al 2011;Lo et al 2012). There are also reports of lead-related fatalities from Senegal (Haefliger et al 2009), where the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed at least 18 children died from lead poisoning.…”

Sorption of Pb2+, Co2+ and Cr2+ Using Cissus populnea Stem Bark Powder as Bio-Sorbent

“…Some of the past episodes of heavy metal contamination in the aquatic environment have increased the awareness about their toxicity. The outbreak of lead poison in Zamfara state, Nigeria [1,2]; the direct discharge of heavy metal containing wastes into water bodies or sewers is to be checked in order to reduce the environmental impact [3].…”