NEW YORK, New York – Lead, a toxic metal found in the Earth’s crust, has posed significant public health problems in many parts of the world due to extensive environmental contamination and human exposure. This widespread issue stems from various sources such as mining, smelting, manufacturing, and the use of lead in a wide range of products. While the majority of global lead consumption is for lead-acid batteries in motor vehicles, it is also used in products like pigments, paints, ammunition, and certain traditional cosmetics and medicines. This has led to lead contamination in drinking water, particularly in areas with lead pipes or pipes joined with lead solder.
The 2021 update from the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that nearly half of the 2 million lives lost to known chemical exposures in 2019 were due to lead exposure, accounting for 21.7 million years lost to disability and death worldwide. Children are particularly vulnerable to lead poisoning, with exposure leading to severe damage to the brain and central nervous system, resulting in long-term effects such as reduced intelligence quotient, behavioural changes, and cardiovascular issues.
It’s important to note that there is no known safe blood lead concentration, and even low levels of exposure to lead in children can lead to decreased intelligence and learning problems. WHO has identified lead as one of the 10 chemicals of major public health concern needing action by Member States to protect the health of workers, children, and women of reproductive age. The successful phasing out of leaded gasoline in most countries has confirmed significant public health benefits, but there is still a need to phase out lead paint in many countries.
As of July 2021, leaded fuel for cars and lorries is no longer sold anywhere in the world. However, more needs to be done to regulate lead paint. WHO has joined with the United Nations Environment Programme to form the Global Alliance to Eliminate Lead Paint, which aims to encourage all countries to have legally binding laws to control the use of lead in paint.
In conclusion, lead exposure poses a significant public health risk, particularly for children. WHO continues to work on developing guidelines for the prevention of lead exposure, providing evidence-based guidance for policymakers, public health authorities, and health professionals to protect the health of children and adults from lead exposure. Overall, efforts need to continue in order to minimize the negative impacts of lead exposure on public health.