Blood lead levels in children living near the world’s largest lead mine in Zambia have been present for generations and have resulted in cognitive impairment in a large proportion of the population. And residents of the district of Kabwe have blood lead levels that are higher than that those in Flint, Michigan, who recently received a $641m settlement in “the most well-known modern example of a mass lead poisoning” case.
A Mail & Guardian Online report notes that this was set out in the latest filing by law firms Mbuyisa Moleele and Leigh Day in their class action suit against Anglo American SA, which is accused of causing multi-generational leading poisoning in the Kabwe district. They are representing 13 claimants on behalf of 100,000 women and children who have been contaminated by the mine. The claimants, who filed the lawsuit in October 2020, are seeking permission from the Gauteng High Court (Johannesburg) to proceed with a class action suit for compensation for the women and children who have or may become pregnant in the future because children and pregnant women are most vulnerable to the effects of lead.
They are also seeking blood lead screening for those affected in Kabwe, as well as the clean-up and remediation of the area to ensure that the health of future generations is not jeopardised. Anglo American has opposed the class action and consistently denied responsibility.
See more from MedicalBrief archives:
Anglo American seeks more documents in Zambian mine lead poisoning action
Anglo American ‘knew of lead danger’ at Zambian mine
Gauteng High Court asked to rule on Zambia lead-poisoning class action