Staff directory
Thierry De Putter
Earth Sciences
Geodynamics and mineral resources
Geodynamics and mineral resources
Publication details
Banza Lubala Nkulu, C., Casas, L., Haufroid, V., De Putter, Th., Saenen, N., Kayembe Kitenge, T., Musa Obadia, P., Kyanika wa Mukoma, D., Lunda Ilunga, J.-M., Nawrot, T.S., Luboya Numbi, O., Smolders, E. & Nemery, B. 2018. ‘Sustainability of artisanal mining of cobalt in DR Congo’. Nature Sustainability september 2018. DOI: 10.1038/s41893-018-0139-4. (PR).
Article in a scientific Journal / Article in a Journal
The sustainability of cobalt is an important emerging issue because this critical base metal is an essential component of
lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles. More than half of the world’s cobalt mine production comes from the Katanga
Copperbelt in DR Congo, with a substantial proportion (estimated at 15–20%) being extracted by artisanal miners. Here we
show, in a case study performed in the town of Kolwezi, that people living in a neighbourhood that had been transformed into
an artisanal cobalt mine had much higher levels of cobalt in their urine and blood than people living in a nearby control area.
The differences were most pronounced for children, in whom we also found evidence of exposure-related oxidative DNA damage.
It was already known that industrial mining and processing of metals has led to severe environmental pollution in the
region. This field study provides novel and robust empirical evidence that the artisanal extraction of cobalt that prevails in the
DR Congo may cause toxic harm to vulnerable communities. This strengthens the conclusion that the currently existing cobalt
supply chain is not sustainable.