Title: Outbreak of fatal childhood lead poisoning related to artisanal gold mining in northwestern Nigeria, 2010 Conclusion: The recent childhood deaths in the two villages were caused by acute lead poisoning from gold oreprocessing activitie s

Background: In May 2010, a team of national and international organizations was assembled to investigate children's deaths due to lead poisoning in villages in northwestern Nigeria. Objectives: Our goal was to determine the cause of the childhood lead poisoning outbreak, investigate risk factors for child mortality, and identify children 45 µg/dL), and incidence of convulsions among children before death (82%)