The issue

Lead is a well-recognized toxicant that has wide-ranging health impacts, in particular affecting the neurological, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal and haematological systems. Young children are particularly vulnerable because they have higher exposures than adults and because lead affects the developing brain, potentially resulting in reduced intellectual ability. The World Health Organization (WHO) 2021 update of the “Public health impact of chemicals: knowns and unknowns” estimate that nearly half of the 2 million lives lost to known chemicals exposure in 2019 were due to lead exposure. Lead exposure is estimated to accounts for 21.7 million years lost to disability (disability-adjusted life years, or DALYs) worldwide due to long-term effects on health, with 30% of the global burden of idiopathic intellectual disability, 4,6% of the global burden of cardiovascular disease and 3.0% of the global burden of chronic kidney diseases.

Even though there is wide recognition of the harmful effects of lead and many countries have taken action, exposure to lead, particularly in childhood, remains of key concern to health care providers and public health officials worldwide. 

Policy background

WHO identifies lead as one of 10 chemicals of major public health concern needing action by Member States to protect the health of workers, children and women of reproductive age. Recent reductions in the use of lead in petrol, paint, plumbing and solder have resulted in a substantial reduction in population-level mean blood lead concentrations. However, significant sources of exposure still remain, particularly in developing countries.

Further efforts are required to continue to reduce the use and releases of lead and to reduce environmental and occupational exposures, particularly for children and women of child-bearing age. Interventions include eliminating non-essential uses of lead such as lead in paint, ensuring the safe recycling of lead-containing waste, educating the public about the importance of safe disposal of lead-acid batteries and computers. Measurement of blood lead levels in children, women of child-bearing age and workers can indicate the need for clinical intervention (see "Guideline for clinical management of exposure to lead").

Recognizing the continuing need for action to stop exposure to lead from paint, the second session of the International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM2) in 2009 nominated lead in paint as an emerging policy issue for voluntary cooperative action for risk reduction by countries under the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM) policy framework. This led to the establishment of the Global Alliance to Eliminate Lead Paint (the Lead Paint Alliance) in 2011, under the joint leadership of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Health Organization (WHO). The primary goal of the Alliance is to promote the global phase-out of lead paint through the establishment of appropriate legally binding measures to stop the manufacture, import, export, distribution, sale and use of lead paints in every country. WHO is also a partner in a project funded by the Global Environment Facility that aims to support at least 40 countries in enacting legally binding controls on lead paint. This goal has received further support in the WHO Chemicals Road map to enhance health sector engagement in the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management towards the 2020 goal and beyond (decision WHA70(23)), which includes national action to phase out the use of lead paint.

The elimination of lead paint will contribute to the achievement of the following Sustainable Development Goal targets: 

3.9: by 2030 substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water, and soil pollution and contamination;

12.4: by 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle, in accordance with agreed international frameworks, and significantly reduce their release to air, water and soil in order to minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the environment.

• Countries with legally binding controls on lead paint 
• Read more about lead
• Official website of the Global Alliance to Eliminate Lead Paint
• WHO Chemicals road map