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14/10/22 13:43 PM IST

India bears world’s highest health, economic burden due to lead poisoning: Centre

In News 
  • A report by Niti Aayog and the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) has found that India bears the world’s highest health and economic burden due to lead poisoning.
Major Findings 
  • Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh.
  • Some 23 states have an average BLL that goes beyond five micrograms per decilitre (μg / dl) — the standard used to gauge poisoning.
  • Affected children: As per the 2020 UNICEF report half of India’s children were poisoned by lead
Lead Poisoning 
  • It is a medical condition caused by increased levels of heavy metal lead in the body and its interference with a variety of body processes resulting in toxicity to many organs and tissues (called plumbism). 
  • Lead in the body is distributed to the brain, liver, kidney and bones. It is stored in the teeth and bones, where it accumulates over time.
  • Lead in bone is released into the blood during pregnancy and becomes a source of exposure to the developing foetus.
  • WHO has identified lead as 1 of 10 chemicals of major public health concern.
  • WHO has joined with the United Nations Environment Programme to form the Global Alliance to Eliminate Lead Paint.
Source- DTE 

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