WHO urges action on lead poisoning dangers
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The World Health Organisation on Thursday told countries to do more to prevent lead exposure, with hundreds of millions of children affected worldwide. “Lead poisoning is one of the world’s most serious yet overlooked environmental health threats,” said Bruce Gordon, head of the WHO’s environment department.
Lead is categorised by the WHO as one of the 10 chemicals of major public health concern, along with others including arsenic, asbestos, mercury and highly hazardous pesticides. Lead exposure is a widespread but preventable health threat estimated to contribute to more than 3.5 million deaths globally every year.
The WHO says 815 million children have blood lead levels of at least five microgrammes per decilitre, which its guidelines say should trigger a review of how they are exposed to lead, and action to reduce or end it. “Over one in three children around the world are above WHO’s action level,” Gordon told reporters.
“A child can be exposed without showing any obvious symptoms.”
Lead is particularly dangerous for children because their developing brains and nervous systems are highly vulnerable to its toxic effects.
The widespread use of lead, a naturally occurring toxic metal found in the Earth’s crust, has resulted in extensive environmental contamination, human exposure and significant health problems, says the WHO.
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