Tests reveal hazardous lead levels in the soil and blood of families living near Africa's battery recycling sites. In short:Battery recycling first migrated to Africa from India more than two decades ago, drawn by the promise of cheap labor and weak environmental protections. Hastening the exodus, India enacted rules governing the safe handling of lead but to this day no such protections exist in Africa where lead recycling is a multi-billion dollar business. As a result, Indian battery recyclers thrived in Africa even as nearby residents sickened from lead-induced illnesses that went largely ignored by government officials. Key quote:“The sky is the limit.”— Indian Prime Minister, Narendra ModiWhy this matters:Experts call battery recycling one of the most polluting industries in the world.

Source: New York Times December 06, 2023 12:46 UTC