**12. Environmental approach**

A number of environmental activities were carried out to effect decontamination of the affected villages. The Zamfara State Ministry of Environment and Solid Minerals (ZMoE) with technical assistance from the Blacksmith Institute (BI) of New York and TerraGraphics Environmental Engineering (TG) have helped to secure a clean environment in the identified seven contaminated villages and 430 compounds, which commenced from June 2010 to March 2011 [19]. The remediation process includes identification of contaminated areas in the affected villages, removal of all contaminated soil, its deposition in secure landfill sites and replacement with clean soil [6].

The World Health Organization and multiple partners have been assisting Zamfara State and Federal Authorities in Nigeria to prevent further environmental contamination with lead. Measures employed in the decontamination process include relocation of ore processing activities and storage of ore materials away from the villages, adoption of new processing methods that will reduce the emission and dispersal of lead dust, as well as hygienic measures such as removing contaminated clothes, socks and shoes and washing same before returning home after every mining session [7].

Highly contaminated wells where lead concentrations were significantly higher (2 to 3 times more) than the limit set by WHO for drinking water were directed to be closed immediately after the installation of boreholes for safer alternative drinking water. The closed wells were then integrated into the overall remediation plan. For all wells without safety walls in areas identified with vulnerability to lead contamination, concrete safety walls were earmarked for construction around all drinking water wells. This was done to prevent possible run-off of potentially lead-contaminated soil into these drinking water sources, including the newly remediated ones. The recommendation was also made by the Joint UNEP/OCHA Environment Unit [2] for the federal, state and local authorities to prevent further ore processing activities anywhere around the sources of drinking water for humans and livestock.
