Zambia: Playing in Poisoned Dust - Being Outside is a Health Risk for Some of Zambia's Children

interview

Thousands of children in Kabwe, Zambia, risk lead poisoning just by playing outside because the earth and dust are so contaminated. The source is a lead and zinc mine that shut down in 1994 but was never properly cleaned up or sealed off. Lead poisoning can lead to health issues ranging from learning disabilities to seizures or even death. Philippa Stewart spoke to researcher Joanna Naples-Mitchell about the implications for families living in Kabwe – where the soil in contaminated neighborhoods has some of the highest lead levels in the world.

How did you first become aware of the problem in Kabwe?

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