Lead poisoning affecting one in 3 children in world: Report

New Delhi: Highlighting the magnitude of heavy metal contamination, a recent UNEP report says that one in three children in the woeld is affected by lead poisoning.

There are some common items that can contain lead. It is found in some paints and toy parts, like a bright yellow toy truck with chipped paint, This heavy metal severly impacts children’s health, and can lead to developmental deficiencies. Lead is blended with paint to make it more vivid and moisture resistant.

Heavy metal causes more than 1.5 million deaths annually and can trigger developmental disorders in children. Lead particles contaminate the air, water and soil, reducing crop productivity and harming biodiversity. Lead also disproportionately harms those in low- and middle-income countries, says the report.

Spices are the other common items that have lead.And this contamination is not confined to a few countries but is a global issue.The report says that sellers may intentionally add lead chromate to low-grade spices to increase their vibrancy and economic value. While some countries have reduced lead use in spices through public awareness campaigns and regulations, monitoring and enforcement has often lagged.

The Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Health Organization have code of practices to reduce lead presence in spices and other foods. Governments can use this knowledge to inform and strengthen lead monitoring networks and national policies. They can also work with health agencies to invest in more frequent blood testing – especially among children – to identify trends and limit sources of lead, the report says.

As compared to spices and the paint industry, the battery industry is the much bigger culprit. as it is the largest lead-using industry. Lead-acid batteries power many vehicles, renewable energy systems and infrastructure, like data networks. As demand for these rises, so does the improper production and management of batteries. Informal workers and communities across parts of Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America may be at increased risk of exposure to lead and fume emissions due to inadequate safety or pollution management standards, the report says.

It urges the countries to establish stronger safety regulations and increase funding for proper equipment and facilities.
The report notes that the world is making progress to eliminate lead paint. Some 48 per cent of countries have legally binding controls on lead paint. The Global Alliance to Eliminate Lead Paint brings governments, academia, non-governmental organizations and paint companies together to increase the number of laws regulating this globally. UNEP and partners developed a model law and guidance to assist countries in regulating lead paint, as well as lead paint reformulation guidance to help small and medium-sized enterprises.

The Global Framework on Chemicals, a milestone international agreement adopted in 2023, can also help curb the use of lead. It outlines 28 targets to address chemicals throughout their life cycle, including halting illegal trade and trafficking of chemicals and the implementation of legal regulatory frameworks. As the first global public-private partnership on lead exposure in low- and middle-income countries, the Partnership for a Lead-Free Future can offer governments policy and management recommendations to move towards a lead-free future.

—–INDIA NEWS STREAM