More in this series: Cobalt in Congo and Graphite in ChinaĪpple, in response to questions from The Post, acknowledged that this cobalt has made its way into its batteries. More in this series: Cobalt in Congo and Lithium in Argentina More in this series: Graphite in China and Lithium in Argentina But the desperate search for the ingredients carries a steep cost. The world has grown reliant on lithium-ion batteries that power smartphones, laptops and electric cars. And the mining activity exposes local communities to levels of toxic metals that appear to be linked to ailments that include breathing problems and birth defects, health officials say. An estimated 100,000 cobalt miners in Congo use hand tools to dig hundreds of feet underground with little oversight and few safety measures, according to workers, government officials and evidence found by The Washington Post during visits to remote mines. The world’s soaring demand for cobalt is at times met by workers, including children, who labor in harsh and dangerous conditions. Then he slung his shovel over his shoulder. But now a debt collector stood at the door. “Do you have enough money to buy flour today?” he asked his wife. And he planned to mine by hand all day and through the night. A proud man, he likes to wear a button-down shirt even to mine. He grabbed his metal shovel and broken-headed hammer from a corner of the room he shares with his wife and child. But Mayamba, 35, knew nothing about his role in this sprawling global supply chain.
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