An investigative report has uncovered that recycling facilities in Nigeria are playing a key role in the supply chain for lead used in car batteries across America and Europe. This process, while critical for the production of batteries, is causing significant harm to the health and environment of Nigerian communities.
The report highlights the dangers faced by workers and residents due to the hazardous nature of lead extraction. Exposure to lead can lead to severe health issues, including neurological damage, kidney failure, and even death. Environmental contamination from the extraction process has also led to polluted soil and water, affecting local ecosystems and agricultural productivity.
While the lead extracted from Nigerian recycling plants is used in the manufacturing of car batteries in the United States and Europe, the environmental and health costs of this process are borne by the Nigerian population. The report calls for greater transparency and regulation in the global supply chain for lead, as well a push for more sustainable recycling practices that do not compromise the health of local communities.