A health crisis affecting one in three children

Lead exposure is a silently devastating danger. Its symptoms are difficult to spot but cause irreversible damage to children worldwide on a massive scale. These findings, published in UNICEF and Pure Earth’s “The Toxic Truth” report, are impossible to ignore.

800 million children globally have unsafe blood lead levels

There is no safe level of lead in a child’s body and no cure for damage caused by exposure. Lead, a poisonous element, affects almost every organ in a child’s body. Blood lead levels, even at the lowest measurable amount, can compromise the reproductive, neurological and cardiovascular systems.

800 million children globally have unsafe blood lead levels

There is no safe level of lead in a child’s body and no cure for damage caused by exposure. Lead, a poisonous element, affects almost every organ in a child’s body. Blood lead levels, even at the lowest measurable amount, can compromise the reproductive, neurological and cardiovascular systems.

Lead is a potent neurotoxin that causes irreparable harm

Exposure to this silent danger is particularly destructive to children under five years old, damaging their brains before they can develop. The lifelong effects include neurological, physical and cognitive impairment as well as mental health issues and behavioural problems.

Children under 5 years old are the most vulnerable

Childhood lead exposure leads to years of lost productivity

In 2019, global lead exposure accounted for 21.7 million years of healthy life lost worldwide due to the long-term effects of lead exposure on health. Today, 94 per cent of the disease burden from lead exposure occurs in low- and middle-income countries.

Parents who work around lead often unknowingly expose their children

Substandard recycling of lead batteries is a major cause of poisoning

Among the most alarming and harmful sources of childhood lead exposure is the informal recycling of used lead-acid batteries in unregulated factories, where smelting creates toxic fumes and lead dust covers the ground.

Batteries are unsafely broken down, contaminating everything around them

The illicit use of lead in consumer products needs to be eliminated

The use of lead in paints, spices, cosmetics, toys, traditional medicine and other consumer products needs to be eliminated, requiring the development and reinforcement of legislation and policies. The recycling of e-waste should be regulated and should prevent children from being exposed.

Lead often hides where consumers least expect to find it

Partnering to solve a global problem

The founding members of the Protecting Every Child’s Potential initiative, Pure Earth, Clarios Foundation and UNICEF, are committed to a future free from lead exposure.

How you can get involved

Together we can ensure a future free from lead exposure to help children achieve their full potential. We need governments, companies and organizations to support existing and new projects. Join Us.

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