Hosted by the GPH Department of Global & Environmental Health
Lead, Copper, and Gold are valuable commodities and essential ingredients in thousands of products. As the price of these commodities goes up, the pressure to increase recovery of recycled metals creates enormous economic incentives. This is especially true for LMICs. However, the recovery of copper from eWaste, lead from used automotive batteries and gold from alluvial deposits generates ongoing environmental contamination and health risks. Communities are often faced with the untenable choice of health or wealth.
Over the past 25 years, Professor Jack Caravanos has visited dozens of sites worldwide attempting to bring attention to this environmental health challenge. This seminar will present global case studies of environmental exposure and “successful” intervention efforts.