![]() ![]() ![]() If our suppliers are unable or unwilling to meet our standards then we suspend or terminate business with them." ![]() "We know our work is never done, and we will continue to drive our standards deep in our supply chain. Sustainable cobalt mining gin the DRC is still considered the best option for all involved, particularly the West.Image: Chinese dealers don't ask where the cobalt comes from or who has worked to extract itĪnd it has been reported that Donald Trump is set to issue a new executive order that would reverse regulatory controls designed to prevent US companies profiting from "conflict minerals" mined in the DRC and neighbouring countries.Ī number of tech and automotive firms Sky News contacted said they would review their protocols, but would rather improve conditions than make a clean break from established supply chains.Īpple, whose response referenced the specific mine in our report, said it told one of its smelters, Huayou Cobalt, to suspend sourcing from artisanal mines.īut it said it would not sever all ties with artisanal mines as that "would be harmful to communities who rely on this mining for their income".Īn Apple spokesperson added: "Apple is deeply committed to the responsible sourcing of materials for our products and we've led the industry in establishing the strictest standards for our suppliers. Solving these issues is not easy because banning mining in the Democratic Republic of Congo would mean that industrial mines would take over and that might lead to more problems. This work also leads to recreational recklessness, furthering the country’s social problems of alcoholism and prostitution. Young men who are looking for quick cash often start working in mines because they earn much more there than they do as farmers. The results of an ongoing study suggest that miners’ newborn babies have increased risks of birth defects.Īrtisanal cobalt mining also causes other problems. There was more DNA damage in children living in the mining area than those who were from the control group. Long-term health affects are not clear yet, but it’s clear that toxic metals are not good for the body. The study may be limited, but the results show that mining clearly enters the bodies of people who live in surrounding areas, causing adverse affects on their health. These numbers were much more higher than what would be accepted at European factory workers. The Results Were Alarming:Ĭhildren who lived in the mining district had 10 times as much cobalt in their urine as children living elsewhere. A control group with similar composition was selected in the neighbouring district. The researchers collected urine and blood samples from 72 of the Lasulo residents, which included 32 children. The dust is released during the mining process and it settles on the ground. ![]() The biggest problem is dust because it contains the cobalt and other metals such as uranium. Mine pits surround houses in that area, where hundreds of creuseurs hunt for cobalt. The researchers conducted the case study in Kasulo – an urban neighbourhood in Kolwezi, which is the hub of the Congolese mining area. Previous research by the university and the KUU Leuven found high concentrations of trace metals in the urine of people who live close to the mines. Researchers at KY Leuven, and at the University of Lubumbashi have found that cobalt mining has lead to bad health in both diggers who work in the mines, as well as on the environment. Around 60 per cent of the world’s cobalt supply comes from the Katanga region of the Congo. And the Democratic Republic of the Congo is the global leader in cobalt supply. The demand for cobalt, which is used as a major component in rechargeable lithium-ion batteries for electric cars, and smartphones has placed high levels of demand for its increase. ![]()
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