Lure for gold ore fuels child deaths in Zamfara

The tide of deaths of infants and young children from an outbreak of lead poisoning in Zamfara State, in North West Nigeria did not come like a thief in the night. The stage had been set for the tragic incident several years earlier.

Increasing activities of illegal miners and improper processing of lead-contaminated gold ore within households in the community, were largely responsible for the high death toll.

Image of an artisinal miner holding wolframite is from Julien Harneis.