Kelley Wilson
Current Event #4
SOC 202-02
Serbia and Kosovo experienced a civil war about six years ago, but Kosovo residents are still facing the consequences of the war. Many families are living in camps that have been contaminated by lead and now the environment, especially the ground is filled with lead poisoning. The major source is the Trepca Mine. The mine has been closed, but lead does not decompose over time; therefore, it still remains in the soil, water and dust. As a result of the contamination, many jobs have been created for pollution control and clean-up.
Many of the families have been moved to different places and different camps where there is less corruption. But, with the continual dams supplying water with the lead, it moves to more places causing those areas to become contagious. The most at risk for the poisoning are children. They play on the ground and with them putting their hands in their mouths it caused them to become infected. Most of the lead that would be consumed in an adult will leave their bodies through urine or feces. The health related problems that are caused from lead are, brain and nerve damage, impaired speech, hearing difficulties, reduced mental cognition, decrease in growth, high blood pressure, hyperactivity, and depression. These symptoms affect people in all areas of their lives. It is devastating and extremely dangerous.
The environmental clean-up organization has declared that many of the infected mines be opened back up, including Trepca Mine. They believe that the only way to improve these conditions is to face to task hands on. The organization wants to clean up all the infected places. It will take a considerable amount of time, but it has employed many people. All places many not be completely healed, but with all the workers and the hand of God, conditions are expected to improve dramatically.
Website: http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/sep2006/2006-09-01-01.asp
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