KAMPAI PROJECT - JICA/SATREPS
2016 - 2020
6th December 2016

Visualization of impact of chronic / latentchemical hazard and Geo-EcologicalRemediation in Zambia
Collaborative research between the University of Zambia andHokkaido University
Funding: Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Japan Scienceand Technology (JST)Duration: 2016-2002
Site: Kabwe City, Central Province, Zambia

Project participants fromZambia
1) The University of Zambia
2) Ministry of Higher Education
3) Kabwe Municipal Council (KMC)
4) Ministry of Health (MOH)
5) Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development
6) Ministry of Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental
Protection7) Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA)
8) National Remote Sensing CentreExamples of toxic metal diseases(Pb, Hg, Cd, As)

JapanGhana
Nigeria

ZambiaBangladesh

Kabwe, Zambia

Cadmium (Cd) toxicity (>100 deaths) - Itai itai disease (Japan,1967)
Methylmercury (Hg) toxicity (>1000 deaths) - Minamata disease(Japan, 1956)
Lead (Pb) toxicity (>400 children died) - Nigeria (2010)
Arsenic (As) toxicity (>1000 deaths) - Bangladesh (1970-)

Background - Kabwe City
 Long history of Pb-Zn mining From 1902 to 1994
 Extensive Pb contamination of township soils in the vicinity of themine Kabwe has attracted worldwide attention

Scrap metalscavenging at mine

Kabwe

Pb exposure factors

Inhalation exposure
through dusts?
Scrap metal scavenging atthe mine

Closed Pb-Zn minePb exposure factors
Housing near the mine dumps

Our research activities in Kabwe CityPASTPRESENT

FUTUREPb poisoning inOutline of PAST studies
2009~2011

children?

Pb & Cd
contamination inchicken goat2012~

Study Outline
Soil contaminationand diffusion

Pb & Cd
contamination

2008~2009

Kabwe Pb & Zn Miningincattle

Soil sampling (n=101, May 2009)(Modified from Google Earth)Zn, Pb and Cu concentrations in Kabwe soils

Zn, Cu and Pb
concentrations
in soilexceeded theFAO Limits.
ZnPbCuZn

Pb

Cu

Range

5 – 91,000

9 – 51,000

2 – 5,000

Median

610

280

40

FAO Limits

500

150

100

Cd and As in Kabwe soil
Cd and As
concentrations
also exceed the
FAO Limits.

CdAs

CdAs

Range

0.01 - 1400.04 - 140

Median17FAO Limits

1.618

Pb pollution inchildren?
Pb & Cdcontamination
inchicken2009~2011

Soil contaminationand diffusion

Pb & Cd
contamination
inKabwe Pb & Zn Miningcattle

Regional difference of Pb in cattle liver in Zambia• Kabwe higher levels of
Pb in the liver• Chibombo Pb levels weresimilar to Kabwe• Other towns
 Lower Pb levels• Asterisk: p < 0.001

Regional difference of Cd in cattle kidney in Zambia• Kabwe Higher levels of
Cd in kidneys• Chibombo
 Cd levels weresimilar toKabwe• Other towns
 Lower Cd levels• Asterisk: p < 0.001(Dunettee test)

High Pb and Cd levels in muscle and offalof Free-range chickens (n=17) in Kabwe
AA

mg/kg (wet weight)

Permissible limit(Offal: 0.5, muscle: 0.1)

AA

BC

CC

mg/kg (wet weight)

CdPb

Permissible limit(Liver: 0.5, Kidney: 1.0)
BD

CF

E

F

(Tukey test)

Scavenging
Free-range
chickenPb and Cd xceeded thepermissible limitsPb and Cd comparison in liver ofBroiler (n=32) and Free-range (n=17) in Kabwe
Broiler

Kept indoors and fed commercial feedFreerange

Roam and scavenge for food in themine townshipsPbBroiler*Cd*

Free-range

Broiler

Free-range

Outline of PAST studies

Pb poisoning inchildren?

Pb & Cd
contamination
inchicken
2012~

Soil contaminationand diffusion

Pb & Cd
contamination
inKabwe Pb & Zn Miningcattle

Childhood lead poisoning Childhood lead (Pb) poisoning is a serious public health concern
 Toxicity affects multiple organ systems resulting in numerous
morphological, biochemical and physiological changes
 Hematological disorders
 Nervous system disturbances Impairment of liver and kidney functions

 Young children are vulnerable to Pb poisoning Hand-to-mouth activities
 Higher gastrointestinal absorption of Pb (40 – 50%)
 Iron and calcium deficiencies – enhance Pb absorption
 Only 70% of absorbed Pb is stored in bones and teeth
 Constant bone remodeling → “Endogenous contamination”
 Sensitivity of the developing nervous system to Pb toxicity
 Persistent neurological effects after exposureLead exposure and critical BLLS
Lead Exposure Route

Blood Lead Levels (BLLs)

PbPb

Ingestion

Inhalation

Circulates in blood (35 days)
and excreted in feces andurine

Accumulates in soft tissues andbone

Chelation therapy

Clinical signs/symptoms are non specific
Clinical diagnosis of lead poisoning isdifficultyClinical signs and symptoms

Human sample collection - May 2012
Map of Kabwe

Makululu(n=129)CentralKasanda (n=100)
Pb-Znmine

Chowa (n=70)
Mutwe Wansofu

 We collected samples
from local
communities aroundPb-Zn mine.
 0-7 years old children
were main participants.
 3 Health Centres(Makululu, Kasanda,
Chowa area) 299 blood
 250 urine 250 feces(It was difficult to collecturine and fecal samples fromall participants)

Kasanda (n=100)

Makululu (n=129)

Blood Pb concentrations (ug/dL)

100 % ofchildren
exceeded
5 ug/dL

5 ug/dL
Number of children and percent

BLL: Kasanda vs Makululu(Boys and girls analyzed separately )FemaleMale**

Kasanda was significantly higher in both boys and girls

Age difference (0-3 years vs 4-7 years)*

Makululu*
Blood Pb (µg/dL)

Blood Pb (µg/dL)

KasandaYounger children had significantly higher BLL than older children

Correlation between Age & blood Pb
Fit each mean value
Linear Fit(BLL = 107.8 - 9.5*Age, p < 0.0001)

Blood Pb (µg/dL)

Polynominal Fit, Degree=2[BLL = 103.5 – 9.4*Age + 0.92*(Age-4.2)^2,p < 0.0001]

1(N=24)2(N=39)3(N=20)4(N=38)5(N=33)Age (sample size)

6(N=35)7(N=34)

Publications on PAST research
1. Yabe J et al. Lead poisoning in children from townships in the vicinity of a lead-zinc mine inKabwe, Zambia. Chemosphere119:941-7 (2015)
2. Nakayama SMM, et al. Accumulation and biological effects of metals in wild rats in mining
areas of Zambia. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 185:4907-4918 (2013)
3. Yabe J et al. Metal distribution in tissues of free-range chickens near a lead-zinc mine in
Kabwe, Zambia. Environ Toxicol Chem. 2013 Jan;32(1):189-192.
4. Nakayama SMM, et al. GIS-based source estimation of Cu pollution in Lake Itezhi-tezhi andmetal accumulation profiles in Oreochromis spp. from both field and laboratory studies.
Arch Environ Contam Toxicol. 2013 Jan;64(1):119-129.
5. Nakayama S.M.M, et al. Metal contaminated soil from mining area caused metalaccumulation and biological responses in rats. JJVR, 61:S77-S79 (2013)
6. Yabe J et al. Accumulation of metals in the liver and kidneys of cattle from agricultural areas
in Lusaka, Zambia. J Vet Med Sci. 2012 Oct;74(10):1345-7.
7. Nakayama SMM, et al. Metal and metalloid levels and bio-accumulation characteristics insoil, sediment, land plants and hippopotami (Hippopotamus amphibius L) from the South
Luangwa National Park, Zambia. Ecotox Environ Saf. 2012 Jun;80:333-8.
8. Yabe J et al. Uptake of lead, cadmium, and other metals in the liver and kidneys of cattle
near a lead-zinc mine in Kabwe, Zambia. Environ Toxicol Chem. 2011 Aug;30(8):1892-7.
9. Nakayama SMM et al. Metal and metalloid contamination in roadside soil and wild rats
around a Pb-Zn mine in Kabwe, Zambia.Environmental Pollution 159 (2011) 175-18.
10.Yabe J, et al. Current levels of heavy metal pollution in Africa. J Vet Med Sci. 2010
Oct;72(10):1257-63.
11.Nakayama , et al. Heavy metal accumulation in lake sediments, fish (Oreochromis niloticus
and Serranochromis thumbergi) and crayfish (Cherax quadricarinatus) in Lake Itezhi-tezhi
and Lake Kariba, Zambia. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol. 2010 Aug;59(2):291-300.

Research questions
Extent of Pb pollution and poisoning inKabwe?
Exposure pathways?
Health impact of Pb poisoning?
Economic impact of Pb pollution?
Neurodevelopmental
impactofPbpoisoning?
Suitable remedial measures?

PAST

PRESENT

FUTUREKAMPAI Project:
KAbwe Mining Pollution Amelioration Initiative
KAMPAI ProjectJapanese side:
Hokkaido University

Zambian side:
University of Zambia andGRZ Ministries

KAMPAI Project Outputs
Output 1:
Monitoring and risk
assessment in Kabwe mining
area (and geo-ecologicalsurveillance of broad areas inZambia)

Faculty of Agriculture Science team:Measurement of lead in soil andenvironmental samples in detail

Output 2:
Establishment of economic
assessment system forhuman/animal health andecosystem and visualization

Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Medice,
Education and Economics team:
Risk and economics assessment

Output 3:
Development of geo-ecological
database and remediation
technology

Faculty of engineering team:
New environmental remediationtechnology of the soil

Output 4: Capacity buildingProject preparatory meetings - 2015

Project signing ceremony - 16/10/2015

Minutes of Meetings: JICA, UNZA, Education, MOH, Mines,Lands, KMC, ZEMA (16/10/2015)
MOU: Hokkaido University and University of Zambia (22/12/2015)

Records of Discussions: JICA, Ministry of Higher Educationand UNZA (24/03/2016)

Project Output 2 (2016 – 2020)
Specific objectives• Measure blood Pb concentrations in mother (venous and cordblood) and child pairs in Kabwe• Measure Pb levels (blood, urine and feces) in children underthe age of 7• Measure Pb concentrations in breast milk
• Measure biomarkers to determine the effects of Pb exposure• Neurodevelopment assessment of Pb exposure in children• Assess the socio-economical impact of Pb pollution in Kabwe

Blood Pb concentrations in children, maternal
blood and breast milkLead crosses the placenta Maternal and umbilical cord
blood Pb levels have a strong
correlation
 Blood Pb levels of the infant issimilar to that of the motherMilk Pb levels
 Pb levels in breast milk increase
with levels in maternal blood
 Concentrations in breast milk
indicates postnatal exposure• Fetuses and infants are at thehighest risk of Pb neurotoxicity

Brochin-et-al-2008-GUJHS-5-2

Stable Pb isotope ratios andbiomarkers• Stable Pb isotope ratios
ICP-MSTo clarify source of exposure• Blood biochemistry
COBAS Ready - blood chemical analyserTo determine health effects• Plasma/Urine biomarker
HPLC-UVTo determine markers of exposure and effectNeurodevelopment Assessment• Children under 3 years of age
Infants and their mothers will be followed up for aperiod of 48 months at birth and thereafter everyyear
The Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ) will be
used to assess the cognitive, motor, language andbehaviour of infants from one to 42 months of age

Neurodevelopment Assessment: 3-10 years old• Zambia Child Assessment Tool (ZamCAT)
 For preschool children to assess language, cognition and finemotor skills• Neuropsychological Assessment Tool (NEPSY) For 3-16 year old to assess subtle central nervous system
deficits (social, academic and behavioural difficulties)• Universal Nonverbal Intelligence Test (UNIT)
 For 5-17 year old to assess general intelligence using
nonverbal means• Kaufman's Assessment Battery for Children (KABC-II) For 7-18 year old to assess cognitive and mental processes(Sequential Processing, Simultaneous processing, Learningand Planning Ability)

Economic impact assessment• The impact of lead in Kabwe will be “quantitatively”
estimated to establish a model for new assessment
system• No study has compared the Pb exposure of individuals
and their socioeconomic conditions for the Kabwe
pollution case• We will investigate the interaction between Pb
concentrations of the studied individuals and theirsocioeconomic characteristics• We will also investigate the economic consequences ofthe environmental and health effects in terms ofproductivity and other related consequences

Ethical Considerations• The following specific standards will be upheld:
 Ethical clearance already obtained from UNZABREC
 Clearance already obtained from (NHRA – MOH)
 Written informed consent will be obtained from parents
 Minimum risk will be upheld in the drawing of biologic
samples by the local medical personnel Samples (cord blood, breast milk, blood, hair and urine)
will be disposed off according to stipulated guidelines
 The presence of the parent/caregiver during theneurodevelopmental testing will also be a requirement
 Respondents will be assured of confidentiality
 Parents/guardians of affected children will be referred forfurther assessment and therapy for the childChelation therapy• Intravenous formulations
When clinical symptoms consistent with lead poisoning or
when blood lead levels are greater than 70 µg/dL
Edetate calcium disodium (CaNa2EDTA) can be used inconjunction with dimercaprol• Oral formulations
Recommended for BLL > 45 µg/dL
Dimercaptosuccinic Acid (DMSA, Succimer) is the drug
most commonly used
Other oral agents include DMPS (Unithiol) andpenicillamine
Zinc can be adversely affected by DMSAPb poisoning treatment protocol (DMSA)

Thank you for your attention