Nairobi e-waste dump threatens lives of hundreds of children

The Nairobi slum where 12-year-old Priscilla grew up abuts one of Africa's largest dumpsites. Now her blood is charged with lead, as electronic waste from the world over piles up unchecked. "Every time the dump spews a large cloud of smoke, I start coughing," says Priscilla, whose Saint John school in Korogocho slum is often shrouded in a cloud of thick noxious fumes. Her blood lead level is 19.9 microgrammes per decilitre, twice the international norm. Dandora is far and away the largest refuse dump in the 4.5-million-strong Kenyan capital, and with 2,000 tons of fresh waste every day, it also holds the dubious distinction of being a member of the "dirty 30" club of the world's most polluted sites. Read more...