Lead Poisoning

Syllabus: GS-2/Health , GS-3/Science and Technology

In News

• Recently, a study published in ‘The Lancet Planetary Health Journal’ has highlighted the impacts of Lead Poisoning.

What is Lead?

• Lead (Pb) is in a bluish-white color and is soft and ductile metal.
• It is a naturally occurring toxic metal found in the Earth’s crust, whose widespread use has caused environmental contamination and health problems in many parts of the world. 

What is Lead Poisoning?

• Lead poisoning is a serious health issue caused by the accumulation of lead in the body.
• According to a 2020 report by the United Nations Children’s Fund and Pure Earth around one in three children worldwide record blood lead levels of over five μg/dL.
  • Normal range of lead in blood for adults: less than 10 micrograms per deciliter (µg/dL).
  • For children: less than 5 µg/dL.
• Countries with the highest burden are Iran, Afghanistan, Yemen, Peru, Vietnam, the Philippines and parts of Central Africa.

Sources of Lead Poisoning

• Anthropogenic Sources
  • Mobilization of lead in raw materials such as fossil fuels and other extracted and treated ores and metals.
  • Releases during the manufacture, use and disposal of products using lead (e.g. paint, batteries, toys).
  • Direct releases from waste to soil and aquatic environment.
  • Leaded gasoline.
• Natural Sources
  • Volcanoes.
  • Weathering of Rocks.
  • Exudates from vegetation.

Impacts of Lead Poisoning

• Impact on Humans:
  • Once lead enters the bloodstream, it goes directly to the brain because there is no specific blood-brain barrier to restrict its movement.
    • The Low and Middle Income Countries are majorly affected, with children losing an average of 5.9 IQ.
    • It can harm young children’s health by doing damage to the brain, slowed development and learning difficulties.
  • In adults, it can create a risk of cardiovascular diseases,chronic kidney diseases and learning disabilities.
    • 5.5 million died due to cardiovascular diseases caused by lead exposure in 2019.
  • During pregnancy, if the mother consumes lead, there is no placental barrier, so the lead is transferred to the fetus.
• Environmental Impact: 
  • It can also lead to losses in biodiversity, changes in community composition, decreased growth and low reproductive rates in plants and animals, and neurological effects in vertebrates.

Lead Poisoning in India

• The affected states are Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Andhra Pradesh accounting for 40% of the population with high blood lead levels.
• Lead toxicity in India contributes to 4.6 million Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) and 165,000 deaths annually.

Government Initiatives

• National Programme for Prevention and Control of Fluorosis, Endemic Skeletal Fluorosis and Arsenicosis: It was launched in 2010 to take measures to prevent lead poisoning.
• National Health Mission (NHM): It was initiated by the government to provide comprehensive healthcare services, including screening for lead poisoning and treatment for affected individuals.
• Lead Battery Waste Management Rules, 2016: It was formulated by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) to regulate the disposal of lead-acid batteries and promote their recycling in an environmentally safe manner.
• National Programme for the Health Care of the Elderly (NPHCE): It was launched by the government to provide healthcare services to the elderly population, who are particularly vulnerable to lead poisoning.
• Center for Advanced Research on Environmental Health (CAREH) : It was established by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) to conduct research on environmental health issues, including lead poisoning.

Source: DTE