Lead Exposure Causes $6 trillion in Economic Losses

Syllabus: GS2/ Health

Context

• Recent estimates published in The Lancet Public Health highlight the grave repercussions of lead exposure, a potent neurotoxin, on global health.

About Lead (Pb)

• Brief: Lead is a heavy metal and a naturally occurring element found in the Earth’s crust.  It is soft, malleable, and has a relatively low melting point.
• Sources of Lead Exposure: Industrial Processes like Mining, smelting, manufacturing, recycling.
  • Product Usage likeLead-acid batteries (largest consumer), paints, pigments, stained glass, ceramics, ammunition.
  • Water Contamination by leaks from old lead-based plumbing.
• Health Effects: Brain and nervous system damage, Reduces cognitive abilities and kidney failure.
  • Over 1.5 million deaths in 2021 due to cardiovascular effects from lead.
• Environmental Effect: An increase in lead concentration in soil from 0 ppm to 1000 ppm significantly impacts

Actions to Mitigate Lead Exposure

• WHO clinical management guidelines for lead exposure.
• Global Alliance to Eliminate Lead Paint: It is a voluntary partnership formed by the UNEP and the WHO to prevent exposure to lead through promoting the phase-out of paints containing lead. 
• Banning use of leaded petrol.

Source: DTE