Gold lust is exacting a heavy price among children living near the mines of northern Nigeria. According to this Human Rights Watch article and video, over 400 children have died in this area from lead poisoning, and thousands more remain in need of critical medical treatment. Children are largely exposed to lead as they work in local gold mines, and by general environmental pollution throughout miner homes and in soil and water. To date, no clean-up efforts have begun. (See related videos at this site.)
