Lead Pollution in India Needs to be Strengthened

Syllabus: GS2/ Health

Context

• The UNICEF report projected that nearly 275 million children out of the 800 million affected by lead pollution reside in India, i.e. 50 percent of India’s child population.

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.
  • It is produced through decay of radioactive members of the natural decay series of the radioisotopes of uranium, namely U-235 and U-238, and Th-232. 

What is Lead Poisoning?

• Lead poisoning is a serious health issue caused by the accumulation of lead in the body.
• 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.

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.

Sources of Lead Poisoning

• Manufacturing and disposal of lead-based products like paints, batteries, and toys contribute significantly to environmental contamination.
• Leaded Gasoline: Once a widespread source, leaded petrol was phased out globally (United States in 1975, India in 2000, and Algeria as the last in 2021).
• Geological Processes: Volcanic eruptions release lead into the atmosphere.
  • Weathering of lead-rich rocks contributes to soil and water contamination.

Impact of Lead Poisoning

• Lead directly affects the nervous system, particularly in children, leading to developmental delays and cognitive impairments.
• It inhibits the absorption of essential nutrients like iron, zinc, and calcium, which are vital for brain and body growth.
• Lead acts as a xenobiotic toxicant, promoting reactive oxygen species production, which damages DNA, RNA, and proteins.

Government steps to control lead poisoning

• 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 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 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.

Way Ahead

• Awareness campaigns: The government can launch awareness campaigns to educate people about the dangers of lead poisoning and the sources of lead exposure.
• Occupational health and safety regulations: The government should implement and enforce occupational health and safety regulations to protect workers in industries that involve lead exposure.
• Periodic soil testing  in areas with high lead exposure is required to identify and mitigate contaminated areas.

Sources: DTE