In a watershed study, termed a “wake-up call” by experts, newly released modeling research suggests that the toll of lead poisoning on global health is far graver than previously perceived. The research, published in the prestigious Lancet Planetary Health journal and authored by two distinguished World Bank economists, unveils a startling revelation: lead exposure may be a silent contributor to over five million annual deaths, akin to the menace of air pollution.
Lead pollution, infamous for its pernicious effects on human health, particularly concerning heart disease and the cognitive development of young children, led to the global ban of leaded gasoline. However, the toxic metal continues to infiltrate lives through insidious avenues such as food, soil, cookware, fertilizers, cosmetics, lead-acid car batteries, and other unsuspected sources.
The study, helmed by lead author Bjorn Larsen, represents a pioneering effort in assessing the ramifications of lead exposure on heart disease fatalities and the cognitive decline of children across both affluent and developing nations. The researchers’ model astoundingly suggests that in 2019, 5.5 million adults succumbed to heart disease due to lead exposure, predominantly in low- and middle-income countries. This figure dwarfs previous estimates, standing at six times higher and constituting nearly 30 percent of all cardiovascular disease-related deaths, a global leading cause of mortality. Astonishingly, lead exposure may now eclipse both smoking and cholesterol as a principal catalyst for heart disease.
Beyond the grim toll on adult lives, the research unveils another harrowing truth: children under five suffered a staggering cumulative loss of 765 million IQ points worldwide in 2019 due to lead poisoning, with a staggering 95 percent of these losses occurring in developing nations. This number represents a jarring 80 percent surge from earlier estimates. The economic consequences of this pervasive issue are equally dire, with the researchers pegging the cost of lead exposure at a staggering $6 trillion in 2019, equating to a staggering 7 percent of global GDP.
This investigation harnessed data from the monumental 2019 Global Burden of Disease study, broadening the scope to explore the multifaceted impact of lead on cardiovascular health, encompassing factors such as arterial hardening leading to strokes.
While this research sheds crucial light on an alarming issue, some experts urge caution. Roy Harrison, an authority in air pollution and health, underscores the uncertainties embedded in this study. He highlights the reliance on a U.S.-based survey to establish the link between blood lead levels and heart disease, cautioning against assuming its universal applicability. Additionally, Harrison emphasizes that the study primarily relies on estimations of lead levels in blood across many developing countries rather than concrete tests, adding a layer of uncertainty.
Despite these reservations, Richard Fuller, president of the NGO Pure Earth, asserts that real-world data from developing countries often reveals even higher lead levels than the estimates found in this study, suggesting that the problem might be even more dire. He views this research as an essential “wake-up call” for addressing the pervasive lead contamination issue.
The puzzle of lead exposure’s varied sources and its impact on blood contamination remains partially unresolved. Fuller underscores that a recent Pure Earth report, released in conjunction with this study, underscores the extent of the crisis. This report, based on 5,000 samples from 25 developing countries, exposes alarmingly high rates of lead contamination in everyday items such as metal pots and pans, ceramic cookware, paint, cosmetics, and toys. This discovery underscores how seemingly innocuous items in kitchens and homes are unwittingly poisoning populations in less affluent nations.
Source AFP
