Contamination of water and food crops by trace elements in the African Copperbelt: A collaborative cross-border study in Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo

Background. Environmental pollution by trace metals is of concern in the African Copperbelt, a region of intense mining situated on either side of the border between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Zambia. Scientists from both countries undertook a collaborative study using the same sampl...

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Autores principales:	Ambayeba Muimba-Kankolongo, Célestin Banza Lubaba Nkulu, Jacob Mwitwa, Florence M. Kampemba, Misery Mulele Nabuyanda, Vincent Haufroid, Erik Smolders, Benoit Nemery
Formato:	article
Lenguaje:	EN
Publicado:	Elsevier 2021
Materias:	Global health Governance Mining Pollution Metals Environmental sciences GE1-350
Acceso en línea:	https://doaj.org/article/f1685f6c088146c59de2ec7b89bc8658
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spelling	oai:doaj.org-article:f1685f6c088146c59de2ec7b89bc86582021-12-02T05:04:11ZContamination of water and food crops by trace elements in the African Copperbelt: A collaborative cross-border study in Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo2666-765710.1016/j.envadv.2021.100103https://doaj.org/article/f1685f6c088146c59de2ec7b89bc86582021-12-01T00:00:00Zhttp://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666765721000740https://doaj.org/toc/2666-7657Background. Environmental pollution by trace metals is of concern in the African Copperbelt, a region of intense mining situated on either side of the border between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Zambia. Scientists from both countries undertook a collaborative study using the same sampling and analytical methodologies to assess metal contamination of water and food in both countries.Methods. In six mining areas (Lubumbashi, Likasi, Kipushi in DRC; Chingola, Kitwe, Luanshya in Zambia) samples of water (surface, boreholes, taps) and various crops were collected in two residential sites near mining operations, and in rural villages farther away (controls). Nine elements (Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, Pb, U) were measured by ICP-MS or ICP-OES.Results. In drinking water obtained close to mining, the median concentrations (µg/L) of all trace elements, except Zn, were substantially higher in DRC (n=20) than Zambia (n=18), this being most pronounced for Pb (27 vs 0.08), Cd (0.7 vs <0.015) and Co (65 vs 1.3). In plants, most of which were leafy vegetables, the concentrations of all trace elements, except Mn, were consistently higher in DRC (n=145) than Zambia (n=128). Compared to control sites, crops obtained near mining exhibited significantly higher concentrations of Zn and Pb in Zambia, and of Co, Cu, As, Cd, Pb and U in DRC. Cd and Pb exceeded international standards in most DRC crop samples.Conclusion. This unique cross-border study documented metal contamination of drinking water and locally grown vegetables near mining activities in Zambia and DRC, with the contamination being worse in DRC. The higher pollution observed in DRC compared to Zambia must largely be attributed to differences in environmental governance between the two countries. Efforts are needed to enforce regulations and to mitigate the negative impacts of mining and smelting operations on the environment, population health, and food security in the African Copperbelt.Ambayeba Muimba-KankolongoCélestin Banza Lubaba NkuluJacob MwitwaFlorence M. KampembaMisery Mulele NabuyandaVincent HaufroidErik SmoldersBenoit NemeryElsevierarticleGlobal healthGovernanceMiningPollutionMetalsEnvironmental sciencesGE1-350ENEnvironmental Advances, Vol 6, Iss , Pp 100103- (2021)
institution	DOAJ
collection	DOAJ
language	EN
topic	Global health Governance Mining Pollution Metals Environmental sciences GE1-350
spellingShingle	Global health Governance Mining Pollution Metals Environmental sciences GE1-350 Ambayeba Muimba-Kankolongo Célestin Banza Lubaba Nkulu Jacob Mwitwa Florence M. Kampemba Misery Mulele Nabuyanda Vincent Haufroid Erik Smolders Benoit Nemery Contamination of water and food crops by trace elements in the African Copperbelt: A collaborative cross-border study in Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo
description	Background. Environmental pollution by trace metals is of concern in the African Copperbelt, a region of intense mining situated on either side of the border between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Zambia. Scientists from both countries undertook a collaborative study using the same sampling and analytical methodologies to assess metal contamination of water and food in both countries.Methods. In six mining areas (Lubumbashi, Likasi, Kipushi in DRC; Chingola, Kitwe, Luanshya in Zambia) samples of water (surface, boreholes, taps) and various crops were collected in two residential sites near mining operations, and in rural villages farther away (controls). Nine elements (Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, Pb, U) were measured by ICP-MS or ICP-OES.Results. In drinking water obtained close to mining, the median concentrations (µg/L) of all trace elements, except Zn, were substantially higher in DRC (n=20) than Zambia (n=18), this being most pronounced for Pb (27 vs 0.08), Cd (0.7 vs <0.015) and Co (65 vs 1.3). In plants, most of which were leafy vegetables, the concentrations of all trace elements, except Mn, were consistently higher in DRC (n=145) than Zambia (n=128). Compared to control sites, crops obtained near mining exhibited significantly higher concentrations of Zn and Pb in Zambia, and of Co, Cu, As, Cd, Pb and U in DRC. Cd and Pb exceeded international standards in most DRC crop samples.Conclusion. This unique cross-border study documented metal contamination of drinking water and locally grown vegetables near mining activities in Zambia and DRC, with the contamination being worse in DRC. The higher pollution observed in DRC compared to Zambia must largely be attributed to differences in environmental governance between the two countries. Efforts are needed to enforce regulations and to mitigate the negative impacts of mining and smelting operations on the environment, population health, and food security in the African Copperbelt.
format	article
author	Ambayeba Muimba-Kankolongo Célestin Banza Lubaba Nkulu Jacob Mwitwa Florence M. Kampemba Misery Mulele Nabuyanda Vincent Haufroid Erik Smolders Benoit Nemery
author_facet	Ambayeba Muimba-Kankolongo Célestin Banza Lubaba Nkulu Jacob Mwitwa Florence M. Kampemba Misery Mulele Nabuyanda Vincent Haufroid Erik Smolders Benoit Nemery
author_sort	Ambayeba Muimba-Kankolongo
title	Contamination of water and food crops by trace elements in the African Copperbelt: A collaborative cross-border study in Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo
title_short	Contamination of water and food crops by trace elements in the African Copperbelt: A collaborative cross-border study in Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo
title_full	Contamination of water and food crops by trace elements in the African Copperbelt: A collaborative cross-border study in Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo
title_fullStr	Contamination of water and food crops by trace elements in the African Copperbelt: A collaborative cross-border study in Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo
title_full_unstemmed	Contamination of water and food crops by trace elements in the African Copperbelt: A collaborative cross-border study in Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo
title_sort	contamination of water and food crops by trace elements in the african copperbelt: a collaborative cross-border study in zambia and the democratic republic of congo
publisher	Elsevier
publishDate	2021
url	https://doaj.org/article/f1685f6c088146c59de2ec7b89bc8658
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Contamination of water and food crops by trace elements in the African Copperbelt: A collaborative cross-border study in Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo

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