Lead Pollution and Poisoning Crisis Environmental Emergency Response Mission Zamfara State, Nigeria September/October 2010
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Lead Pollution and Poisoning Crisis Environmental Emergency Response Mission Zamfara State, Nigeria September/October 2010 Published in Switzerland, November 2010 by the Joint UNEP/OCHA Environment Unit Copyright © 2010 Joint UNEP/OCHA Environment Unit This publication may be reproduced in whole or in part and in any form for educational or not-for-profit purposes without special permission from the copyright holder, provided acknowledgement is made of the source. Joint UNEP/OCHA Environment Unit Palais des Nations CH-1211 Geneva 10 Switzerland Tel. +41 (0) 22 917 4419 Fax +41 (0) 22 917 0257 http://ochaonline.un.org/ochaunep Experts: Jurgen van Belle (EAM team leader), Matthew Conway (mission team leader), Gert-Jan Knetsch, Edith van Putten, Ramon Ramlal Report Editor: Joint UNEP/OCHA Environment Unit Cover photo: gathering sediment sample from drinking water well in a village of Anka LGA, Zamfara State, northern Nigeria (credit Joint UNEP/OCHA Environment Unit) 2 Table of Contents Table of Contents................................................................................................................... 3 Executive summary ............................................................................................................... 5 List of acronyms and glossary of terms.................................................................................. 9 1 Introduction ................................................................................................................. 10 1.1 Nigeria................................................................................................................. 10 1.2 Zamfara State....................................................................................................... 10 1.3 Mass acute lead poisoning.................................................................................... 11 2 Response Activities...................................................................................................... 12 2.1 JEU Sampling and Analysis Mission.................................................................... 12 2.2 Assessments and Findings.................................................................................... 14 2.2.1 Sampling and analytical strategy................................................................... 14 2.2.2 Results of the measurements......................................................................... 15 3 Conclusions ................................................................................................................. 21 3.1 Lead in drinking water.......................................................................................... 21 3.2 Lead in surface water............................................................................................ 21 3.3 Lead in soil........................................................................................................... 22 3.4 Mercury in air ...................................................................................................... 22 3.5 Mercury in water and soil..................................................................................... 22 3.6 Possible resumption of processing activities in remediated villages ...................... 22 3.7 Further study of food pathways needed................................................................. 22 3.8 Further study needed to determine extent of lead pollution ................................... 23 3.9 Wholistic approach to further study...................................................................... 23 4 Recommendations........................................................................................................ 24 4.1 Remediation of highly contaminated wells ........................................................... 24 4.2 Protect sensitive areas and remediate villages....................................................... 24 4.3 Erect safety walls around wells............................................................................. 24 4.4 Assess other villages for possible contamination .................................................. 24 4.5 Key messages for inclusion in public education efforts......................................... 24 5 Further Considerations................................................................................................. 25 6 Acknowledgements...................................................................................................... 26 7 Bibliography................................................................................................................ 27 8 Annexes....................................................................................................................... 28 Annex I: Composition of the mission team....................................................................... 28 Annex II: Mission Itinerary.............................................................................................. 29 Annex III: Mission Terms of Reference ........................................................................... 31 Additional supplies: ..................................................................................................... 34 Annex IV: Mercury Fact Sheet......................................................................................... 36 What happens to mercury when it enters the environment? .......................................... 36 How can mercury affect my health? ............................................................................. 36 How does mercury affect children? .............................................................................. 36 Annex V: Lead Fact Sheet ............................................................................................... 37 What is lead? ............................................................................................................... 37 How can lead affect one’s health? ................................................................................ 37 How does lead affect children?..................................................................................... 37 What happens to lead when it enters the environment?................................................. 37 Health effects of lead ................................................................................................... 37 Annex VI: Background information on analysis............................................................... 38 Lead detection in water with water testing kit method .................................................. 38 Lead detection in water with GC-MS method............................................................... 38 3 Lead detection in sediment and soil with XRF method ................................................. 39 Mercury detection in air with mercury analyzer............................................................ 40 Annex VII: Background information on samples.............................................................. 41 Annex VIII: Maps............................................................................................................ 46 A. Overview.............................................................................................................. 46 B. Kirsa village......................................................................................................... 47 C. Abare village........................................................................................................ 48 D. Bagega village...................................................................................................... 49 E. Dareta village....................................................................................................... 50 F. Sunke village........................................................................................................ 51 4 Executive summary In March 2010, an unusually high number of deaths, primarily among children under age 5 in Bukkuyum and Anka Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Zamfara State, northern Nigeria, was reported by Médecins sans Frontières (MSF-Holland) to state health authorities. Further study 1 on blood samples taken by MSF revealed that the increased mortality was the result of acute lead poisoning, determined to be caused by massive environmental contamination from artisanal mining and processing of gold found in lead-rich ore. The grinding of the ore into fine particles resulted in extensive dispersal of lead dust in the villages concerned, including within family compounds. Ingestion and inhalation of the fine lead particles was determined to be the major reason for high blood lead levels in victims’ bodies. 2 Blood lead levels (BLLs) were “unprecedented” for human beings, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). From 20 September through 7 October 2010, the Joint UNEP/OCHA Environment Unit (JEU) led a sampling and analysis mission to investigate the lead pollution emergency in Zamfara State, following requests for assistance from the Federal Ministry of Health of Nigeria and the UN Resident Coordinator. Specifically, the mission focused on determining quantities of lead in ground and surface water, building on investigations already conducted by the CDC, the World Health Organization (WHO), and the National Water Resources Institute of Nigeria (NWRI), and a team from TerraGraphics Environmental Engineering/The Blacksmith Institute, as it was determined