Why in News?
- Recently, 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 Highlights of the Report-
- Global Findings-
- Globally around 1 in 3 children– up to approximately 800 million, have blood lead levels (BLL) at or above 5 micrograms per decilitre (µg/dL).
- Children around the world are being poisoned by lead on a huge and previously unrecognized scale.
- The impact of lead on adults is so large that more than 900,000 premature deaths per year are attributed to lead exposure.
- Various countries lack sufficient formal recycling infrastructure and capacity to handle the quantity of used lead-acid batteries flooding their markets.
- Findings about India- It had revealed that India to be home to a major chunk of children (275,561,163 of the 800 million) poisoned by lead globally.
- Most affected states are Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh.
- Deaths due to lead poisoning have continued to increase in India even though lead use in petrol— a main source, was phased out by 2000 in the country.
- Around 23 states have an average BLL that goes beyond 05 microgram per decilitre (μg / dl), the standard used to gauge poisoning.
Lead Poisoning Meaning-
- It is a type of metal poisoning that result in rise in lead concentration in the body. Lead exposure can happen by contaminated air, water, dust, food, or consumer products.
- Lead is a naturally occurring toxic metal largely found in the Earth’s crust.
- 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.
- Human exposure is generally assessed through the measurement of lead in blood.
- Lead in bone is released into blood during pregnancy and becomes a source of exposure to the developing foetus.
- There is no level of exposure to lead that is known to be without harmful effects.
- Lead exposure is preventable.
Sources of Lead Poisoning-
- The key Source of Lead Poisoning was vehicular emission. Though, use of lead in petrol was phased out in 2000.
- Some other main sources are like Battery recycling, lead mining, smelting, welding, soldering and automobile repatriating.
- Adulterated spices (turmeric), cosmetics (sindoor), pesticides, paints, toys and traditional medicines have traces of lead.
- Drinking water supplied through lead pipes or lead soldered pipes may carry lead.
- Pottery glaze on cookware and serving dishes makes up a significant source of lead exposure for children and adults.
Effects of Lead Poisoning on the Human Body-
- Neurological Problems- Tingling, numbness or weakness in the legs or hands. Some have brain-related symptoms like low IQ and memory loss.
- Reproductive problems- Low sperm count, miscarriages and variation in menstrual cycle.
- Blood- Anaemia, blood pressure and effects on blood cells.
- Renal- Lead can damage kidney cells, leading to chronic kidney problems.
- Gastrointestinal- Abdominal pain, poor appetite, weight loss, constipation etc.
- Infants- Lead can lead to premature birth, reduced birth weight and slow growth of the infant. They also suffer from pale skin and hearing problems.
Indian Government Initiative-
- The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MOEFCC) has approved a notification as “Regulation on Lead contents in Household and Decorative Paints Rules, 2016” and has prohibited manufacture, trade, import and export of household and decorative paints containing lead or lead compounds in excess of 90 Parts Per Million (PPM).