Summary Of The Cobalt Pipeline

Todd C. Frankel discusses rare metal mining, and specifically cobalt, in his article, “The Cobalt Pipeline.” Cobalt, an often overlooked element, is a vital component in today’s smartphones, laptops, electric vehicles, and many other modern day gadgets. Due to the increasing demand for cobalt, “an estimated 100,000 cobalt miners in Congo use hand tools to dig hundreds of feet underground with little oversight and few safety measures.” This is the stark reality of the mining process. There are also new concerns regarding the adverse health effects of working in the mines. Studies have supported that there is a correlation between spending time in the mines and thyroid conditions, breathing problems, and most importantly, birth defects in their