Partnership for a Lead-Free Future

Dr. Seema Javed

UNEP will join UNICEF, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and public and private partners to launch the Partnership for a Lead-Free Future, which aims to address the problem of lead poisoning in children, particularly in low-and-middle income countries, where over 90 per cent of global harm from lead occurs.

Lead also causes long-term harm in adults, including increased risk of high blood pressure, cardiovascular problems and kidney damage. Exposure of pregnant women to high levels of lead can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, premature birth and low birth weight.

Lead is a naturally occurring toxic metal found in the Earth’s crust. Its widespread use has resulted in extensive environmental contamination, human exposure and significant public health problems in many parts of the world.
Important sources of environmental contamination come from mining, smelting, manufacturing and recycling activities and use in a wide range of products. Most global lead consumption is for the manufacture of lead-acid batteries for motor vehicles.

Lead is, however, also used in many other products, for example pigments, paints, solder, stained glass, lead crystal glassware, ammunition, ceramic glazes, jewellery, toys, some traditional cosmetics such as kohl and sindoor, and some traditional medicines used in countries such as India, Mexico and Viet Nam. Drinking water delivered through lead pipes or pipes joined with lead solder may contain lead. Much of the lead in global commerce is now obtained from recycling.

Lead is a cumulative poison meaning once it’s absorbed by the body, it keeps on getting accumulated in blood, kidney, liver and brain. It also affects an unborn child if the mother has lead toxicity- its transferred via placental blood supply to the unborn child.

Lead poisoning occurs when lead builds up in the body, often over months or years. Even small amounts of lead can cause serious health problems. Children younger than 6 years are especially vulnerable to lead poisoning, which can severely affect mental and physical development. At very high levels, lead poisoning can be fatal.

Lead- Acid batteries and their repacking is the most common cause of lead poisoning in India. Apart from this lead based paint and lead-contaminated dust in older buildings are common sources of lead poisoning in children. Other sources include contaminated air, water and soil.

Lead poisoning is responsible for nearly 1.5% of annual global deaths, which is almost as many as HIV and AIDS, and more than malaria.At the global level, 2019 Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation estimates suggest that lead is responsible for 900,000 deaths per year (more than malaria), although many experts now consider this to be an underestimate given recent evidence.