Nigeria: expert urges action against lead exposure

In an interview with Society Plus, Kolawole Adesina, an expert in X-ray fluorescence technology and health physics, called for stronger measures against lead exposure in Nigeria. Adesina observed that the lack of an efficient surveillance system has increased the vulnerability of many communities to the harmful effects of lead poisoning. Lead exposure remains overlooked in Nigeria despite high levels of industrial and urban pollution. For Adesina, lead poisoning is a ticking time bomb, and Nigerian society must take proactive actions to prevent it. Authorities must adopt new methods of detecting lead contamination, using innovative technologies like portable x-ray fluorescence devices, and deploy them across oil-producing regions, major cities, and high-risk industrial areas. This will enable quick assessments and preventive interventions before lead exposure levels reach a critical point.