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community lead poisoning crisis

Thiaroye Sur Mer, Dakar, Senegal

A Crisis Rooted in Informal Industry

For decades, the coastal community of Thiaroye Sur Mer (TSM), near Dakar, Senegal, was a hub for informal Used Lead Acid Battery (ULAB) recycling. Beginning in the 1970s, groups in the area recovered lead from discarded car batteries to produce fishing weights for the local economy. Over time, thousands of tons of toxic battery waste, including lead-contaminated sludge, accumulated throughout the community.

In 2007–2008, a surge in global lead prices prompted East Indian traders to purchase this waste. To facilitate easier transport, approximately 200 local women were hired to dry, sift, and bag lead-laden dust, often bringing their young children with them to work. The bags of concentrated lead were stored inside homes, contaminating living spaces with lethal levels of lead dust.

A Public Health tragedy

By early 2008, 18 children had died due to acute lead poisoning. In response, the World Health Organization (WHO) intervened. Testing of siblings of the deceased led to 41 additional children being hospitalized and placed in foster care. Limited emergency cleanup in April–May 2008 removed 300 tons of lead-contaminated waste from homes, but much more remained.

Mean blood lead levels in children exceeded 100 µg/dL (micrograms per deciliter)
Some children had levels over 350 µg/dL—among the highest ever recorded

TIFO’s Response

Following flooding that delayed further response, TerraGraphics International Foundation (TIFO) partnered with Senegalese authorities and international organizations to conduct:

Extensive environmental sampling

Community interviews

Health risk assessments

In March 2009, TIFO supported the Senegalese Ministry of Health in developing a blood lead monitoring protocol. Testing revealed the crisis was far from over:

30 of 68 children tested had blood lead levels >70 µg/dL

Among 19 children aged 18 months to 4 years, 15 had blood lead levels that exceeded 70 µg/dL

An estimated 250 to 1,500 children were poisoned across the community

Environmental assessments found:

House dust lead levels up to 27,000 mg/kg (milligrams per kilogram)

Average floor dust loadings 100 times U.S. safety thresholds

Over 8,000 m³ (cubic meters) of contaminated soil, much of it exceeding 10% lead content

Community Cleanup

In June 2009, the first phase of full-scale cleanup began.

To assess progress and guide further action, TIFO and partners established sentinel homes.

Sentinel homes are where environmental sampling and child monitoring continue throughout the response. Sentinel homes provide an efficient and cost-effective alternative to continuing to test every single home. They act as an early warning system for the rest of the community.

11,100+ m³ of toxic soil removed from residential lots and streets.

2Nearly half was classified as Principal Threat Material (>10% lead).

3Over 50 local workers were employed, including mothers who had lost children.

4Two teams of villagers were trained for interior home decontamination, working for five months to clean dust-laden houses.

A pile of used lead-acid batteries in Senegal - environmental health Used lead-acid batteries were the initial source of lead in the environment.
senegal-tifo-co-founders-environmental-health TIFO co-founders speak with stakeholder about the health intervention project.
outdoor-remediation-senegal-environmental-health Outdoor remediation included removal of contaminated soils.
Contaminated soil being removed in Senegal - environmental health Soils were taken to a secure off-site facility for disposal.
cleaning-houses-senegal-environmental-health Homes had to be thoroughly cleaned to remove lead dust.
home-remediation-senegal-environmental-health Remediation in the home included repeated washing and vacuuming.

Community Resilience

The tragedy at Thiaroye Sur Mer stands as one of the worst modern lead poisoning disasters. But it is also a story of community resilience, international cooperation, and scientific intervention in the face of overwhelming loss.

Through coordinated cleanup, monitoring, and education, many families now live in safer homes—and a new generation of children has a chance to grow up free from the toxic legacy of lead.