"A deadly chemical trail: New scientific evidence reveals industrial-scale pollution at DRC’s copper-cobalt mines", RAID, 4 Jun 2026

New scientific studies published today document widespread pollution in the air, water and sediment around large-scale copper and cobalt mines in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Scientists have identified pollutants linked to lung disease, neurological damage, cancer and reproductive harm, with children most at risk. Residents living near the mines report escalating health problems.

Two of the studies, [...] provide the first systematic assessment of air quality in the region, alongside an analysis of water and sediments. These are complemented by two further studies on water quality and environmental health [...].

Scientific findings at a glance

• At every site monitored, concentrations of fine dust particles (PM2.5 and PM10) in the air exceeded World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines, in some cases by up to six times; 98% of hourly measurements were above safe limits, indicating communities are exposed to dangerous levels of toxic air continuously, not occasionally.
• At the Galaxy School in Kolwezi, where approximately 1,500 children and 68 staff work and study daily, less than 500 metres from a mining waste stockpile, pollution levels were among the highest recorded across the entire air pollution study.
• The dust carries the chemical fingerprint of industrial mining residues; analysis ruled out traffic, domestic burning of wood, charcoal and artisanal mining as primary sources.
• Across rivers, lakes and wells, scientists found elevated concentrations of copper, cobalt, manganese, arsenic, lead and uranium; metal concentrations in the Kelangile River and Lake Kando exceeded international environmental standards.
• A community water well in Kolwezi, located 200 metres from a tailings storage facility, was found to be 100 times more acidic than recommended, with manganese and aluminium concentrations up to 14 times above health-based limits; manganese at elevated levels has toxic effects on the central nervous system.

The studies were conducted across eight communities in and near the towns of Kolwezi and Fungurume, in Lualaba Province, close to large industrial mining operations, notably: Tenke Fungurume Mining (TFM, operated by CMOC); COMMUS (operated by Zijin Mining) and Mutanda Mining (operated by Glencore).

The organisations shared the findings of the four scientific studies with CMOC (TFM), Glencore (MUMI) and Zijin Mining (COMMUS) two weeks in advance of publication and invited observations. TFM provided a detailed written response, available here. Glencore acknowledged the findings in its short response (see below) and stated it would consider them in its environmental management systems. COMMUS requested an extension after the 1 June deadline had passed. It has yet to provide observations.