**15. Conclusion**

A significant drop in mortality rate due to lead poisoning (from 43 percent in 2010 to 1 percent in 2011 among exposed children (0 to 5 years) has been achieved in the state. Gold mining, being an additional source of income and means of livelihood among the villagers was difficult if not impossible to stop. Sustained changes to mining practices are therefore required to prevent further environmental contamination with lead. Efforts in this direction included relocation of ore processing activities, storage of ore materials and working implements away from villages, adoption of

safer ore processing methods that produce less ore dust; as well as proper hygiene measures such as removing contaminated clothes, socks, shoes and washing them before returning home after work.
