The WHO says lead exposure causes irreversible harm and remains widespread, but fewer than half of countries legally control lead in paint.
The World Health Organization has urged governments to step up efforts to curb lead exposure, warning that the toxic metal remains a vast but preventable threat to children’s health across the world. Bruce Gordon, who leads the agency’s environment department, said lead poisoning is among the most serious and most overlooked environmental dangers, adding that children can be exposed without any obvious warning signs.
The WHO says lead remains one of the 10 chemicals of major public health concern and estimates that exposure contributes to more than 3.5 million deaths a year, largely through cardiovascular disease. The agency also says 815 million children have blood lead levels at or above five microgrammes per decilitre, the point at which it recommends looking for the source of exposure and acting to remove it. According to the WHO, there is no safe level of lead, and even relatively low exposure can cause irreversible harm.
The agency says the metal can enter the body through paint, cookware, cosmetics, spices, informal recycling and industrial pollution. Once absorbed, it can travel to the brain, kidneys, liver and bones, where it may accumulate over time. Children are especially vulnerable because their developing nervous systems are more easily damaged, and the WHO says even small amounts can affect intelligence, behaviour and learning.
The organisation said awareness campaigns are not enough on their own and that governments need stronger laws and enforcement. Fewer than half of countries have legally binding controls on lead in paint, according to the WHO’s latest assessment. The agency is also expanding laboratory capacity for blood lead testing in Brazil, India, Nepal, Ethiopia, Ghana, Malawi, Rwanda, South Africa and Tanzania, while member states are expected to consider a global action plan at their next annual assembly in May.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
