**7. Lead in surface water**

At many points in the region where villagers used surface water sources (i.e. ponds, rivers, streams, lakes and pools), for the processing of lead-contaminated ore to obtain gold, the concentration levels of lead found in surface water bodies were mostly greater than 1000 μg/l. This concentration is said to be ten times higher than the exposure limit set by the FAO for livestock. Consequently, since livestock in the area usually drink from surface water sources, this could have been the reason for the frequent cases of illness and death of livestock often reported by the villagers. Consequently, the slaughter and consumption of any lead-poisoned animal would constitute an important exposure route for humans [17].
