WHO warns lead exposure causes 3.5 million annual deaths

The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that lead exposure causes more than 3.5 million deaths annually and affects hundreds of millions of children worldwide. The agency warns that there is no safe level of lead exposure, as even low levels can cause irreversible damage to the brain, nervous system, and development in children, while contributing to cardiovascular and kidney disease in adults.

Common sources of contamination include lead-based paint, cookware, cosmetics, spices, industrial activities, and informal recycling. Economically, lead exposure was estimated to have cost the global economy $6 trillion in 2019.

As of early 2024, only 94 countries—approximately 48 percent of the world—have implemented legally binding controls on lead paint. In response, the WHO is drafting a Global Action Plan on Lead Mitigation to be presented to the World Health Assembly in 2027. The agency is also working to increase laboratory capacity for blood-lead testing in countries including Brazil, India, Nepal, Ethiopia, Ghana, Malawi, Rwanda, South Africa, and Tanzania.