1. KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Mining activities release toxic heavy metals such as lead, mercury, and cadmium, posing significant threats to water, soil, air, and human health. Incidents like the 2010 Zamfara lead poisoning epidemic underscore the devastating consequences of unregulated practices.
- Communities are affected through runoff from mining, which contaminates water sources and impacts drinking water, farming, and aquatic life. Heavy metals reduce soil fertility, disrupt agriculture, and threaten food security. Dust from mining activities contains toxic particles that harm respiratory health, especially among vulnerable populations.
- Sustainable mining solutions, such as training programs, waste recycling (of mining byproducts), regulation enforcement, and the adoption of mercury-free technologies, should be implemented to reduce pollution risks.
- The Nigeria-France MoU on critical minerals supports the green energy transition. It emphasizes the importance of sustainable practices in mining to mitigate negative impacts while benefiting from international partnerships.
- Sustainable mining is crucial for balancing economic opportunities with environmental and societal needs. By adopting safer practices, Nigeria can ensure that its mineral wealth contributes to long-term prosperity without compromising ecosystems or public health.
2. INTRODUCTION
Mining activities in Nigeria date back to prehistoric times, with early humans extracting iron, clay, and other minerals for crafting tools, cosmetics, and utensils. The industry was formalized in 1903 when the British colonial administration initiated systematic mineral surveys across the Northern and Southern Protectorates.
Over the years, mining has become a pivotal economic driver, fostering industrial growth and providing employment opportunities in communities rich in mineral resources. However, beneath the allure of minerals lies an often-overlooked risk: the threat of heavy metals to life. Mining for resources such as gold, lead, and tin releases heavy metals like mercury, cadmium, and arsenic, which can persist in the environment for decades. These pollutants infiltrate water bodies, degrade agricultural land, and pose severe health risks, including neurological and respiratory issues.
To address these hazards, the incorporation of sustainable mining practices is essential.
3. DANGERS OF HEAVY METALS IN MINING
Firstly, let us look at what these Heavy metals are. Heavy metals are metallic elements that are toxic or poisonous at low concentrations and have a relatively high density. While naturally occurring, they become hazardous when concentrated or exposed to mining processes. Metals like Lead, Cadmium, and Mercury can seep into waterways, be inhaled as dust, or even accumulate in soils, poisoning plants and animals in the process. When the presence of these toxic nuclides in the environment is enhanced, they will find their way into the human system either by ingestion, inhalation or dermal contact leading to severe health effects like cancer, and damaging important body organs leading to death in some cases 1. Tailings from the gold and beryllium mining activities are often dumped in the immediate environment in tons. This dumping of tailings usually contains higher concentrations of these poisonous elements which is allegedly the leading cause of human exposure that could bring about severe human health effects like arsenicosis, cancer etc., damaging important body organs that could lead to death in some cases 2.
Heavy metals are an ongoing concern, particularly in communities surrounding mining sites such as Enyigba (Abakaliki, Ebonyi state), Maru (Zamfara state), Rimin Zayan (Toro, Bauchi state), Tsofo (Birnin Gwari, Kaduna state) and so on. In Osun State, Nigeria, Ilesha and its surrounding areas, including Epe, Igun, and Ijana, are major centers for gold mining due to abundant deposits. However, illegal mining operations have surged, potentially resulting in the contamination of waterways and nearby soils with heavy metals. Studies have indicated that these mining sites are often located near farmlands, where chemicals from the soil may accumulate in arable and cash crops, ultimately leading to severe heavy metal contamination of water sources and posing risks of poisoning to humans and animals if ingested 3. A tragic case unfolded in areas of Maru, Bukkuyum, and Maru in Zamfara State, where artisanal gold mining exposed people to Lead dust, resulting in a devastating Lead poisoning epidemic in 2010. Over 400 children died, and many more suffered long-term health effects due to exposure 4. This heartbreaking example illustrates the dire consequences of unsustainable mining practices and serves as a wake-up call.
4. HOW HEAVY METALS POLLUTE THE ENVIRONMENT AND HARM COMMUNITIES
As we already mentioned, mining activities can release heavy metals into the environment in various ways including:
Water Pollution: Heavy metals often wash away via runoff from mining sites into rivers, lakes, and underground water sources. This contamination affects drinking water and water used for farming, fishing, and livestock. For example, water bodies in areas with Lead-zinc mining activities, such as Enyigba in Ebonyi State, have shown elevated levels of Lead 5, which could have detrimental impacts on nearby communities who rely on these sources.
Soil Contamination: Metals like Cadmium and Lead can accumulate in the soil, rendering farmland infertile or causing toxic crops to grow. In mining-intensive areas, farmers are often forced to abandon affected lands or switch to less nutritious crops, disrupting food security and local economies.
Airborne Toxic Dust: Dust particles from mining activities can contain harmful aerosols and heavy metals, which are easily inhaled by residents near mining sites. Children are particularly vulnerable to this exposure. Heavy metal dust from mining areas, such as those in Jos, Plateau State, has posed risks to local communities, showing elevated levels of metals that are known to cause severe health issues 6.
5. MOVING TOWARD SAFER MINING PRACTICES
a. Promoting and Supporting Artisanal Mining Training Programs
Artisanal miners, who make up a large portion of Nigeria’s mining workforce, often lack training in safe mining practices, thereby exposing themselves and the environment to risks of contamination. Programs that teach miners safer methods, including using less harmful chemicals and protective gear, can dramatically reduce risks. The Nigerian Ministry of Mines and Steel Development has conducted such safety awareness programs in various mining communities, helping to reduce hazardous practices and promote safer alternatives 7. However, more needs to be done to reach a greater number of artisanal miners in the country.
b. Recycling Mining Waste
In mining, waste is inevitable. However, mining waste often contains useful materials that can be repurposed rather than left to leach toxins into the environment. For example, instead of letting tailings (leftover mineral sludge) contaminate water bodies, they can be recycled for other uses, such as road construction or backfilling abandoned mine sites. Recycling tailings from tin and columbite mining in Jos, Riruwai and Kogo could offer an innovative way to manage waste while reducing environmental impact. However, such initiatives require more investment and awareness from local authorities.
c. Enforcing Regulations and Monitoring Heavy Metals in the Environment
Environmental regulations are essential for keeping mining activities within safe limits. Enforcing these standards through regular monitoring and holding companies accountable can make a real difference. Although Nigeria has made strides in this area, there is still room for improvement. National Environmental (Mining and Processing of Coal, Ores, and Industrial Minerals) Regulations, 2009, provide guidelines to reduce environmental impacts in mining zones. Yet, enforcing these regulations at the local level remains challenging, with the lack of compliance monitoring often putting communities at risk.
d. Phasing Out Mercury Use in Gold Mining
Mercury is often used in artisanal and small-scale gold mining to separate gold from ore. The process is very effective but extremely harmful as mercury is a potent neurotoxin. In line with the Minamata Convention on Mercury, which Nigeria is a signatory to, efforts are being made to reduce mercury use and adopt safer alternatives. Also, Programs run by organizations such as the Global Environment Facility (GEF) 8 are working to introduce Nigerian miners to mercury-free technologies, such as gravity concentration methods, which can recover gold without toxic by-products.
6. PAVING THE WAY FOWARD: WHY SUSTAINABLE MINING MATTERS
Nigeria’s vast mineral wealth could be a source of long-lasting prosperity if managed wisely. Protecting the environment from heavy metals is essential for the health of both people and ecosystems. Sustainable mining can balance economic benefits with social and environmental needs, creating a resilient future for all Nigerians.
Recent global attention has turned to critical minerals like lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements, which are essential for green technologies such as electric vehicles and renewable energy systems. Nigeria’s strategic potential in these minerals was underscored by the recent Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between Nigeria and France to collaborate on critical mineral exploration and development. While this partnership promises significant economic opportunities, it also highlights the urgency of adopting safer and more sustainable mining practices to mitigate negative impacts on the environment and local livelihoods. By implementing strict environmental safeguards, promoting community-inclusive policies, and ensuring the recycling of mining waste, Nigeria can leverage this collaboration to drive both economic growth and environmental resilience.
7. CONCLUSION
Heavy metal pollution is a toxic legacy of mining. However, by implementing sustainable practices, raising awareness, and enforcing regulations, Nigeria can chart a path toward responsible mining that does not poison people or degrade the land. With each small step from promoting safer mining techniques to reducing and recycling waste, we can prevent heavy metals from contaminating our environment.
REFERENCES
[1] Orosun M.M., Adewuyi A.D., Salawu N.B., Isinkaye M.O., Orosun O.R., Oniku A.S. Monte Carlo approach to risk assessment of heavy metals at automobile spare parts and recycling market in Ilorin. Nigeria, Sci. Rep. 2020;10:22084. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-79141-0.
[2] Ramazanova E., Lee S.H., Lee W. Stochastic risk assessment of urban soils contaminated by heavy metals in Kazakhstan. Sci. Tot. Env. 2021;750 doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141535.
[3] Bartrem C, Tirima S, von Lindern I, et al. Unknown risk: Co-exposure to lead and other heavy metals among children living in small-scale mining communities in Zamfara State, Nigeria. Int J Environ Health Res 2014; 24(4): 304-19.
[4] World Health Organization (WHO)
[5] Obasi, P.N., Akudinobi, B.B. Potential health risk and levels of heavy metals in water resources of lead–zinc mining communities of Abakaliki, southeast Nigeria. Appl Water Sci 10, 184 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13201-020-01233-z
[6] Ogbeide, O., & Henry, B. (2024). Addressing Heavy Metal Pollution in Nigeria: Evaluating Policies, Assessing Impacts, and Enhancing Remediation Strategies. Journal of Applied Sciences and Environmental Management, 28(4), 1007-1051.
[7] Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, Nigeria: Safety and environmental regulations for mining.
[8] Global Environment Facility (GEF): Projects for reducing mercury in artisanal gold mining.
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