LEAD POISONING IN NIGERIA: SOURCES, HEALTH IMPACTS AND POLICY GAPS (2005-2025)

Lead poisoning constitutes a severe public health emergency in Nigeria, disproportionately impacting vulnerable groups including children, pregnant women, and artisanal miners. This systematic review (2005–2025), analyzing 85 studies and agency reports, synthesizes evidence on exposure sources, health effects, and policy gaps. Primary exposure routes include artisanal gold mining and informal lead-acid battery recycling, with secondary contamination of water (abnormal pH, elevated Total Dissolved Solids), soil, and food crops. Blood lead levels (BLLs) reveal catastrophic exposure: children in mining areas exhibit BLLs up to 370 µg/dL, 74× the CDC’s 5 µg/dL reference. Occupational exposure averages 45 µg/dL among battery recyclers. Environmental testing shows staples like cassava and spinach bioaccumulating lead at 2–15× FAO safety limits. Health impacts span neurological damage, cardiovascular disease, and renal impairment (e.g., Fanconi syndrome). Despite the 2010 Zamfara outbreak response, progress stalls due to weak NESREA enforcement and limited remediation funding. We propose immediate actions: (1) community-led soil testing, (2) stricter battery recycling regulations, and (3) nationwide BLL surveillance. This crisis demands urgent, multisectoral intervention to safeguard Nigeria’s next generation.