"Kabwe families grappling with lead effects", 9 Dec 2017

...Studies conducted between 2003 and 2006 in Kabwe, where lead and zinc were mined from 1902 to 1994, reveal that the content of lead in the soil in hotspots is as high as 26, 000 mg/kg. This is very high considering that acceptable levels of lead should be around 10 to 15 mg/kg...Residents of Kabwe are not the only ones affected, as research has indicated that environmental liabilities and risks have increased in Zambia’s mining jewel, the Copperbelt Province...Poor maintenance, residential encroachment, poor urban development decision, poor enforcement of environment standards have naturally deteriorated causing health risks to poor and vulnerable population, especially in Chingola, Kitwe and Mufulira districts.
Despite contributing about 11.8 percent to Zambia’s gross domestic product (GDP), the mining sector has, however, left a legacy of environment liabilities. These include air pollution, soil contamination, water pollution, catastrophic failure of tailing dams and lead contamination thereby negatively affecting the health and livelihoods of people.