Photo by Finbarr O'Reilly for The New York Times

investigation

The poisonous lead trade

The auto industry touts the use of recycled lead in batteries as an environmental success story. But some of that lead comes from places like Ogijo, Nigeria, where toxic soot billows from crude factories and poisons workers and families.

Industrial pollution

Recycling lead for U.S. car batteries is poisoning people

We documented the toxic fallout of a green technology.

November 18, 2025

Industrial pollution

The poisonous lead trade

The auto industry was warned: Battery recycling was poisoning people

Despite decades of evidence on the toxic effects of battery recycling, companies opted not to act and blocked efforts to clean up the industry.

November 25, 2025

U.S. recycled lead imports from Nigeria

In the morning, when we looked outside, the ground seemed to be covered in charcoal.

Industrial pollution

The poisonous lead trade

How we linked the auto industry to lead poisoning in Nigeria

Blood and soil testing confirmed the health consequences. Then we tracked individual shipments to the United States.

November 18, 2025

70%

of people tested had lead poisoning

Lead poisoning near Nigerian battery recycling plants

Industrial pollution

The poisonous lead trade

Video: How the U.S. automotive industry fuels lead poisoning in Nigeria

People in Africa’s lead recycling capital have long suspected that the black dust falling from the sky is making them sick. But the extent of the damage to their bodies and their community hasn’t been clear until now.

November 18, 2025