Editing Anglo American plc (section)

== Accusations of health impacts ==
In October 2020, Anglo American was accused of being responsible for lead poisoning in possibly over 100,000 people near [[Kabwe mine]], which the company operated from 1925 - 1974.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Zambians sue Anglo American mining company over lead poisoning |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2020/10/21/anglo-american-sued-for-lead-poisoning-in-zambia-mining-town |access-date=2022-03-21 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2020-10-21 |title=Anglo American sued over alleged mass lead poisoning of children in Zambia |url=http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/oct/21/anglo-american-sued-over-alleged-mass-lead-poisoning-of-children-in-zambia |access-date=2022-03-21 |work=The Guardian |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=2020-10-21 |title=Zambia: Anglo American sued for 'mass lead poisoning' |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-54634511 |access-date=2022-03-21}}</ref> Numerous studies since 1971 have shown that people around Kabwe mine have been poisoned by lead.<ref name=":2" /> A 2015 study found that 100% of children tested in the area had lead in their blood exceeding CDC guidelines.<ref name=":6">{{Cite journal |last1=Yabe |first1=John |last2=Nakayama |first2=Shouta M. M. |last3=Ikenaka |first3=Yoshinori |last4=Yohannes |first4=Yared B. |last5=Bortey-Sam |first5=Nesta |last6=Oroszlany |first6=Balazs |last7=Muzandu |first7=Kaampwe |last8=Choongo |first8=Kennedy |last9=Kabalo |first9=Abel Nketani |last10=Ntapisha |first10=John |last11=Mweene |first11=Aaron |last12=Umemura |first12=Takashi |last13=Ishizuka |first13=Mayumi |date=January 2015 |title=Lead poisoning in children from townships in the vicinity of a lead-zinc mine in Kabwe, Zambia |url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25303652/ |journal=Chemosphere |volume=119 |pages=941–947 |doi=10.1016/j.chemosphere.2014.09.028 |issn=1879-1298 |pmid=25303652|bibcode=2015Chmsp.119..941Y |hdl=2115/58817 |s2cid=4574262 |hdl-access=free }}</ref>

Plaintiffs say that the lead originated from the lead mine and smelter, stating that “generations of children have been poisoned by the operations of the Kabwe mine...which caused widespread contamination of the soil, dust, water and vegetation.”<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Zambia lead poisoning victims seek court approval for Anglo case |url=https://www.mining.com/web/zambia-lead-poisoning-victims-seek-court-approval-for-anglo-case/ |access-date=2022-03-21 |website=Mining |language=en-US}}</ref> Anglo American denies these allegations and has accused its successor [[ZCCM Investments Holdings|ZCCM]], which operated the mine after its nationalization in 1974.<ref name=":0" /> The [[class action]] certification hearing was held in February 2023 at the [[High Court of South Africa]]'s Johannesburg branch.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last=Gbadamosi |first=Nosmot |date=8 February 2023 |title=Zambia Takes Anglo American to Court |work=[[Foreign Policy]] |url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2023/02/08/zambia-south-africa-anglo-american-mining-court-lawsuit/ |access-date=9 February 2023}}</ref>

In 2013, the companies involved in the [[Cerrejón|Cerrejón coal mine]] in [[Colombia]], were accused of increasing illness in approximately 13,000 people living close to the mine.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2013-04-15 |title=Colombian miners hit out at Anglo American |url=http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/apr/15/mining-mining |access-date=2022-03-22 |website=The Guardian |language=en}}</ref> Anglo American was also accused of failing to compensate people who had been displaced by its expansion.<ref name=":1" /> In September 2020, a [[United Nations|UN]] human rights expert advised that Colombia discontinue the mine citing environmental and human rights concerns.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2020-09-28 |title=UN rights expert urges Colombia to suspend some Cerrejon mine operations |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-cerrejon-colombia-idUSKBN26J38P |access-date=2022-03-22}}</ref> In January 2021, the [[OECD]] launched an investigation into [[Cerrejón]] over human rights and environmental concerns. In February 2021, Anglo American announced plans to divest the Cerrejon mine by 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Anglo American to exit thermal coal production by 2024 |url=https://www.montelnews.com/news/1198645/anglo-american-to-exit-thermal-coal-production-by-2024- |access-date=2022-03-22 |website=Montel |language=en}}</ref> In June 2021, Anglo sued the Colombian government for preventing the development of the La Puente coal pit.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-06-04 |title=Anglo American files Cerrejon lawsuit against  |url=https://www.argusmedia.com/en/news/2221732-anglo-american-files-cerrejon-lawsuit-against-colombia |access-date=2022-03-22 |website=Argus Media |language=en}}</ref>