Decades of Lead, Cadmium and Mercury Contamination

Low-level lead, cadmium and mercury exposure contributes much more toward the causation of chronic disease and impaired functioning than previously thought. Environmental contamination and exposure to them has risen dramatically in the past 50 years as a result of increase in the use of these metals in industrial processes and products. A search of the terms mercury, lead, and cadmium exposure, source and poisoning in Nigeria, using Google Scholar search and Africa Journal Online digital library was conducted. The use of industrial processes and products, refuse dumping, absence of poison information centers, and poor record keeping; characterize environmental health in Nigeria.