Solve the lead (Pb) contamination problem through a multi-disciplinary approach!

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Research Fields and Areas
Environment/Energy (Global-scale environmental issues)

Mining is the driver of Zambia's economic growth, but it is increasing the severity of hazardous metal contamination in humans and in livestock, and of environmental contamination triggered by the development of mining. There are strong hopes that anti-contamination measures will provide a solution, but the extent of contamination had not been elucidated, and in this situation, government policies to combat contamination remain undecided.
The aim of this project was to ascertain the impact of metal pollution caused by underground resource development in the Kabwe district of Zambia on the ecosystem and the community as a whole, to predict its future course, and to propose measures for risk mitigation.

Principal investigator (Japan):Prof. ISHIZUKA Mayumi

Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University

Advantage of Joint Research

In addition to the research benefit of being able to elucidate the toxicological impact etc. of types of environmental pollution not seen in Japan today, this project provides the opportunity to train students and young researchers, and has the potential to produce outcomes that enhance Japan's presence in Africa by contributing to the alleviation of environmental pollution.

Principal investigator (Zambia):Prof. Luke E Mumba

Vice Chancellor, The University of Zambia

Advantage of Joint Research

In addition to the project's potential to remediate the environment and restore human and animal health by working through cross-disciplinary research activities including the elucidation of lead contamination mechanisms and risks, the development of environmental remediation techniques, the implementation of educational activities to prevent future contamination, and the visualization of economic losses, etc., it is training human resources through the joint research process.

Project summary

Involvement of experts in multiple fields helps resolve pollution issues

Water and soil pollution, along with high levels of lead contamination in human and animal bodies had been found in the area around the Kabwe mine in the Zambian Central Province. However, the contamination mechanism had not been identified, and the specific effects on human health and the socioeconomic impact were still unclear. This project brought together experts in multiple fields to provide a composite approach by 1) explicating contamination mechanisms, 2) assessing health risk and economic risk, and 3) developing environmental remediation techniques, in order to produce real solutions to the issues of pollution and the serious risk to health.

Project data and expertise tied into practical support

During the project period, the project exchanged memoranda with international agencies working on environmental remediation and medical support. As a result, research expertise and statistical data on lead contamination obtained by the project has become part of the scientific basis behind the medical and environmental remediation activities. Furthermore, assessments of health and economic impact, along with effective environmental remediation technologies etc. obtained by the project will eventually be submitted to the Zambian government in the form of proposals for countermeasures. They will raise awareness of environmental pollution in Africa, leading potentially to solutions for the issues.

Researchers warmly welcomed by children when surveying local elementary schools.
Short break with maize juice and orange juice between sampling tasks.

Project Topics

Preparing for formal approval of the Project

A large number of Zambian government agencies are involved in the project, so it took some time to reach agreement and complete the procedures. From past experience, talking directly to the people at the top of the organization is an effective way of moving smoothly through this stage, so we produced and shared clear explanations of the outcomes expected from the project, and the significance of participation by a Japanese institute. This approach facilitated agreement on the Zambia side.

Kick off meeting (The first JCC)
At the JCC

Equipment provision/Training human resources in partner country

A monitoring lab was established at the University of Zambia, where we installed precision instruments and other equipment for surveying and analysis. The setup was designed to enable analysis of samples taken from contaminated districts to be conducted locally in Zambia. In addition, a monitoring farm was constructed in Kabwe, and used for growing plants to investigate the effectiveness of planting for suppressing the scatter of lead dust. The farm also investigates which plants grow well in high-lead soil.
To learn how to handle the equipment and analyze the data, over 20 staff and students from the University of Zambia were invited to Japan to take part in training sessions. Technology transfer is also ongoing at the University of Zambia monitoring lab. People using the equipment for the first time seemed excited and were very keen to learn how to use it, making comments like "I've seen these in videos but never thought I'd get to use one," and "I've only used this sort of equipment outside Zambia."
This project is conducting training field-by-field across a broad range of academic fields, including veterinary medicine, medicine, agriculture, engineering, and economics. This provides a strong contribution to building research capacity in terms of human resources on the Zambia side.

Learning analysis techniques in monitoring lab at University of Zambia
Counterpart training. Learning about lead contamination countermeasures in Japanese mines

Press and publicity activities

In July 2016 and October-November 2018, the Japanese media carried a substantial number of reports outlining the project and describing the contamination issue in Kabwe. In Zambia, major newspapers carried articles in December 2018, and the project was given news coverage on the national broadcasting network in August 2019.
In addition to informing the press, we are constantly working to communicate what can be done about lead contamination. Wearing masks and washing hands is an effective measure against contamination by lead dust as well as against infection, so we created an educational video about masks and hand-washing. With help from the Japanese embassy, the video was distributed to provinces throughout Zambia by the Zambian government.

Young researcher's comments

I have been stationed longterm in Zambia, working on field research and liaison with government agencies, and handling technical transfer of research expertise. There are times when a sense of values differing from what I would expect in Japan adds difficulty to the tasks, but listening to the thoughts and ideas of the joint researchers and making a specific point of respecting the local culture has enabled us to build a good relationship for cooperation.

Please tell us what prompted you to apply to SATREPS.

Principal investigator (Japan)

Hokkaido University and the University of Zambia have a relationship that dates back some 37 years (as of 2020). When I visited the University of Zambia in 2007, I was invited, as a specialist in toxicology, to research the lead contamination in Zambia. Since then, I have been involved in joint research for over 10 years. The research setup and network steadily took form over the years, including the appointment to the University of Zambia teaching staff of a Zambian veterinarian whose doctorate was awarded by Hokkaido University. Hearing about SATREPS from engineering researchers engaged in pollution issues, it was decided to submit a proposal to SATREPS to take the joint research a step forward.

Please tell us what will happen with your project from now on.　

Principal investigator (Japan):

We aim to contribute to resolving local issues, and to raise awareness of environmental pollution in Africa so that the project outcomes can extend outwards.
Environmental challenges are difficult to resolve by only tackling a single field, so collaboration between a number of fields is a key factor. This project involved collaboration between a large number of experts, with interconnecting expertise ranging from fundamentals to social implementation, a combination that can surely be applied to other issues, too. Regarding changes after medical treatment and environmental remediation, it is necessary to continue acquiring measurement data to provide verification of effectiveness. Consequently, the research will be continued after the termination of the SATREPS project.

Principal investigator (Zambia):

In the KAMPAI project, we assessed lead exposure levels of residents, including women and children, in matrices such as blood and urine. Survey results showed clearly that lead levels have an impact on the surrounding environment and on the human body.
We also worked with the Kabwe Municipal Council and Ministry of Health to communicate this new information and to raise the level of interest and awareness of the problem of lead among the residents and local health workers.
In order to be able to propose effective measures, the project will continue to participate in lead contamination impact surveys and environmental remediation activities.

The official logo for project
The nickname derives from the wish for both countries to be able raise their glasses and smile at the end of the project as they say ... "KAMPAI !" (It also stands for the KAbwe Mine Pollution Amelioration Initiative.)

Please see the project's webpage for details.

Environment/Energy (Global-scale environmental issues)

Zambia

Visualization of Impact of Chronic/Latent Chemical Hazard and Geo-Ecological Remediation

Case Studies

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Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST)
Department of International Affairs
SATREPS Group

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Project summary

Involvement of experts in multiple fields helps resolve pollution issues

Project data and expertise tied into practical support

Project Topics

Preparing for formal approval of the Project