Geneva, Switzerland – Lead is a dangerous toxic metal that is found naturally in the Earth’s crust. Its widespread use has led to extensive environmental contamination, human exposure, and significant public health issues worldwide.
One of the key sources of environmental contamination comes from activities such as mining, smelting, manufacturing, and recycling, as well as its use in various products. While the majority of global lead consumption is for lead-acid batteries in motor vehicles, lead is also used in a wide range of other products, including paints, glassware, ammunition, and traditional cosmetics and medicines in certain countries.
The most vulnerable to the toxic effects of lead are young children, who can suffer severe and permanent adverse health impacts, particularly on the development of their brain and nervous system. Lead exposure also poses long-term health risks for adults, including an increased risk of high blood pressure, cardiovascular problems, and kidney damage. Pregnant women exposed to high levels of lead are at risk of complications such as miscarriage, stillbirth, premature birth, and low birth weight.
Individuals can be exposed to lead through both occupational and environmental sources, primarily through inhalation of lead particles and ingestion of lead-contaminated dust, water, and food. Young children are particularly susceptible to lead poisoning due to their ingestion of lead-containing objects and their increased absorption of lead compared to adults.
Once lead enters the body, it is distributed to various organs and stored in the teeth and bones, where it accumulates over time. This stored lead may be released into the blood during pregnancy, exposing the fetus. Undernourished children are at even higher risk of lead poisoning due to increased absorption in the absence of other nutrients.
In children, lead exposure can have serious consequences, including severe damage to the brain and central nervous system, intellectual disabilities, and behavioral disorders. Lead is also known to affect brain development, resulting in reduced intelligence and educational attainment, as well as increased behavioral issues.
The World Health Organization’s 2021 update on the public health impact of chemicals estimates that nearly half of the 2 million lives lost to known chemical exposure in 2019 were due to lead exposure. Lead exposure is also estimated to account for millions of years lost to disability and death worldwide.
In response, the WHO has identified lead as a major public health concern and has made various resources available for policy-makers and health professionals. Efforts to phase out leaded gasoline have led to significant public health benefits, with population-level blood lead concentrations declining in many countries. However, more work needs to be done to phase out lead paint, as it remains a continuing source of exposure.
WHO is currently developing guidelines on the prevention of lead exposure, aiming to provide evidence-based guidance for protecting the health of children and adults from lead exposure. Efforts to eliminate lead paint are also being supported by the Global Alliance to Eliminate Lead Paint, formed by WHO and the United Nations Environment Programme.
As the understanding of the dangers of lead exposure grows, continued efforts to eliminate its use in various products and environments will be crucial in protecting public health.