Countries must accelerate efforts to prevent lead exposure, which is estimated to cause more than 3.5 million deaths worldwide each year and affect hundreds of millions of children, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Thursday.
The UN agency issued the call ahead of International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, which runs from October 18 to 26.
Although lead exposure is entirely preventable, fewer than half of countries have confirmed legally binding controls on lead-containing paint, according to WHO's latest global assessment.
Lead Exposure Is Stealing Children's Potential
Children face particularly serious risks because their developing brains and nervous systems are highly vulnerable to the toxic effects of lead.
“Lead poisoning should not be stealing children's potential in 2026,” said Bruce Gordon, interim 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,” he said.
Irreversible Harm, Lifelong Consequences
Lead contamination can occur through paint, cookware, cosmetics, spices, informal recycling and industrial sources. There is no known safe level of lead exposure, and even relatively low levels can cause irreversible harm.
Lead poisoning affects multiple organs and contributes to cardiovascular and kidney disease in adults. In children, it can cause irreversible damage to the brain and impair health and development.
Long-term consequences include learning difficulties, behavioural problems and lasting health issues. As symptoms may not be immediately visible, many cases go undetected until significant damage has occurred.
Action Plan and Guidance
WHO member states have recognised lead exposure as an urgent public health concern and mandated the agency to develop a Global Action Plan on Lead Mitigation, which will be presented to the World Health Assembly, WHO's governing body, next year.
The agency will also launch the PREVENT Technical Package on Lead Poisoning Prevention in 2027. It will provide countries with practical guidance on identifying major sources of exposure, selecting effective interventions, strengthening and enforcing regulations, and monitoring progress.
Last year, WHO joined partners in the Lead Poisoning Prevention Initiative to strengthen laboratory capacity for testing blood lead levels, enabling earlier detection of exposure.
Capacity-building and technical support will be provided in Brazil, India and Nepal, as well as six sub-Saharan African countries: Ethiopia, Ghana, Malawi, Rwanda, South Africa and Tanzania.