Pure Earth has been active in India since 2004. Since then, Pure Earth and its local partners have identified 716 contaminated sites, and completed rapid screening assessments at 500 of these. Pure Earth has also conducted a number of risk-reduction projects across India and has engaged with the government on a variety of pollution issues.
India could save over 10 lakhs of lives and 9% of GDP by solving lead pollution.
The Lancet Planetary Health published an article on September 12th 2023 led by World Bank researchers stating that the global cardiovascular disease mortality from lead exposure of 5·5 million deaths in 2019 is six times higher than the earlier estimate (0·85 million) in GBD (Global Burden of Disease) 2019. This is close to the number of estimated global deaths from PM 2·5, ambient and household air pollution combined (6·45 million), and more than three times the number of estimated global deaths from unsafe household drinking water, sanitation, and handwashing (1·66 million). The research estimated that worldwide, children younger than 5 years, lost 765 million IQ (Intelligence Quotient) points from lead exposure. The new research also estimates the lead exposure impact on the economy, US$6.0 trillion is equivalent to 6·9% of 2019 global gross domestic product.
Drawn from the latest 12th September Lancet paper, in the year 2019, approximately 10 lakhs or 19% of global estimated adult deaths from cardiovascular disease associated with lead exposure, were in India. India lost up to 15.4 crore or 20% of the total estimated IQ points lost in children under the age of five. The financial cost of lead exposure to India was US$259 billion, equivalent to 9% of India’s 2019 GDP.
• Creation of policy recommendations to improve the effectiveness of India’s Battery Management/Handling Rules and its enforcement;
• Research to illustrate the health and economic damage caused by informal battery recycling;
• Four community-based programs to improve industrial practices and remediate lead contamination; and
• A public education campaign to raise awareness of the dangers of lead exposure.Pure Earth has convened key stakeholders in the public and private sectors who have agreed to update current battery management policies and participate in a study on sources of lead in Bihar.
The first community-based risk mitigation project was launched in Patna in the state of Bihar in 2017. A community education campaign and lead remediation was completed in 2018. Post-intervention blood lead tests of the affected children are underway. Efforts to relocate informal recyclers operating in residential area to an industrial cluster zone is in the planning stages.
In February 2020, Pure Earth completed the first lead source apportionment study carried out in India.
Pure Earth has convened key stakeholders in the public and private sectors who have agreed to update current battery management policies and participate in a study on sources of lead in Bihar. This research illustrates the health and economic damage caused by informal battery recycling.
Toxic Site Assessments
Pure Earth has been active in India since 2004. Since then, Pure Earth and its local partners have identified 716 contaminated sites, and completed rapid screening assessments at 500 of these. Pure Earth is currently developing non-assessment activities in India that directly result from our in-depth assessment of lead contamination through the TSIP.
Lead Remediation Program
The first community-based risk mitigation project was launched in Patna in the state of Bihar in 2017. A community education campaign and lead remediation project were completed in 2018. Post-intervention blood lead tests of the affected children are underway. Efforts to relocate informal recyclers operating in a residential area to an industrial cluster zone is in the planning stages. There are now four community-based programs to improve industrial practices and remediate lead contamination.
Advocacy and Campaigns
Pure Earth India has created policy recommendations to improve the effectiveness of India’s Battery Management/Handling Rules and their enforcement.
Pure Earth also utilizes public education campaigns to raise awareness of the dangers of lead exposure.
Check back for updates on ongoing campaigns.
Events
International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week
October 24-30th, 2021
Seminar: Understanding Lead Poisoning Prevalence in India
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