The World Health Organization has called on countries to accelerate efforts to prevent lead exposure, warning that the toxic metal contributes to more than 3.5 million deaths annually and affects hundreds of millions of children.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has called on countries to accelerate action to prevent lead exposure, a widespread but preventable health threat estimated to contribute to more than 3.5 million deaths globally each year. The appeal marks International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week 2026, which takes place from 18–24 October under the theme "From Detection to Prevention."
Lead is particularly dangerous for children because their developing brains and nervous systems are highly vulnerable to its toxic effects. According to the WHO, 815 million children have blood lead levels of at least five microgrammes per decilitre, a threshold that triggers a review of exposure sources and action to reduce or end it.
"Over one in three children around the world are above WHO’s action level," said Bruce Gordon, head of the WHO’s environment department. "A child can be exposed without showing any obvious symptoms."
The WHO states that there is no known safe level of lead exposure, and even relatively low exposure can cause irreversible harm. In children, levels as low as 3.5 microgrammes per decilitre can be associated with reduced intelligence, behavioural disorders and learning difficulties. In adults, lead exposure contributes to cardiovascular and kidney disease.
Exposure can occur through paint, cookware, cosmetics, spices, informal recycling and industrial contamination, among other sources. The WHO classifies lead as one of the 10 chemicals of major public health concern, alongside arsenic, asbestos, mercury and highly hazardous pesticides.
Despite decades of progress, the WHO’s latest published global assessment indicates that fewer than half of countries had confirmed legally binding controls on lead paint. As of 16 January 2024, only 48% of countries had such controls in place.
"Lead poisoning should not be stealing children's potential in 2026," said Bruce Gordon, acting director of WHO’s Department of Environment, Climate Change, One Health and Migration. "We know where many exposures come from and we know how to prevent them. Countries now need to move upstream, removing lead from products and environments before it reaches a child's bloodstream."
WHO Member States have recognised lead exposure as a pressing public health concern and mandated the WHO to develop a Global Action Plan on Lead Mitigation. This plan is scheduled to be presented to the World Health Assembly in 2027.
In addition, the WHO will launch the PREVENT Technical Package on Lead Poisoning Prevention in 2027. This package will provide countries with practical guidance to identify priority sources of exposure, determine which interventions can have the greatest impact, strengthen and enforce regulations, and track progress.
To support these efforts, the WHO is enhancing laboratory capacity to conduct blood lead level testing in several regions. Programme locations include Brazil; five states in India; Nepal; and six countries in sub-Saharan Africa: Ethiopia, Ghana, Malawi, Rwanda, South Africa, and the United Republic of Tanzania.
"Awareness alone is not enough, and we need to move to effective policy-making and enforcement," said Gordon.
Lead poisoning is entirely preventable, yet millions of children remain at risk due to gaps in regulation and enforcement. Preventing lead exposure delivers broader social and economic benefits, including reduced health-care costs, improved educational outcomes, and healthier, more productive societies. The WHO’s upcoming Global Action Plan and technical packages aim to help governments translate evidence into action, addressing the root causes of lead exposure before it causes irreversible harm.
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
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