The Cost of Cobalt

In the cobalt-rich heartland of Katanga, Democratic Republic of the Congo, newborns arrive with devastating birth defects. Scientists and physicians are gathering mounting evidence that pollution from industrial mining is to blame for a spectrum of malformations—from cleft palate to severe abnormalities so grave that some babies are stillborn. More than 60% of the world’s cobalt reserves are found in the DRC, a mineral essential for electric car batteries and a cornerstone of efforts to reduce carbon emissions and slow climate change. In The Cost of Cobalt we follow the doctors tending the affected children and the scientists quantifying the pollution. Cobalt may be part of the global climate solution, yet the question persists: should Congo’s next generation pay the price with their health? Many hope that greater international awareness will put pressure on the industry to clean up its act.