Solve pollution. Save lives. Protect the planet.

 

 

ENGLISH

About Pure Earth India

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. In recent years, Pure Earth’s focus in India has centered on lead (Pb) contamination.

Pure Earth is currently developing non-assessment activities in India that directly result from our in-depth assessment of lead contamination through the TSIP. These activities are designed to advance a national effort to further formalize the lead-acid battery recycling industry and substantially reduce the volume of lead that enters the environment and the bodies of children in surrounding communities.

One of the primary sources of lead poisoning for children in India is the informal recycling of used lead-acid batteries (ULAB), primarily car batteries. Nationally, lead poisoning is widespread among India’s children. Existing studies estimate that Indian children under 12 have a mean blood lead level (BLL) of 10 µg/dl. It is estimated that diminished IQ in lead-poisoned children results in a loss of $236.1 billion (12.5% of India’s GDP) in economic productivity every year.

Read more.


Cleaning up lead pollution, protecting school children in Karlmalichak, India
Video credit: Thomas Cristofoletti/USAID

Click to view video in Hindi

THE MULTI-PRONGED STRATEGY INCLUDES:

• 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.

Programmatic Solutions

Research on Lead Sources
Research on Lead Sources

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
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
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
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

October 11th, 2022, 03:00 – 05:00 PM (IST)

News Coverage

Stay up to date with our work:

Knowledge Materials

Our Partners and Donors

  • Public Health Foundation of India
  • India Society for Lead Awareness and Research
  • India Lead-Zinc Development Association
  • NITI-Aayog
  • MOEFCC
  • CPCB
  • International Lead Association
  • World Economic Forum’s Global Battery Alliance
  • USAID
  • UNIDO
  • ERM
  • Trafigura Foundation 
  • GiveWell

Delhi Office
Mezzanine Floor, DLF Centre, Savitri Cinema Complex, Greater Kailash 2, New Delhi-110048

Chennai Office
2nd Fl., ABC Complex, Sunny Side,1st Main Road, Gandhi Nagar, Adyar, Chennai- 600020, Tamilnadu, (South) India.

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Our Team
Dr. SUBRATA DUTTA

Country Director
[email protected]

PROMILA SHARMA MALIK

India Programs Director
[email protected]

SANDEEP DAHIYA

Director Advocacy and Communications
[email protected]

Dr. VINISHA POOJARI

Program Manager

KUMAR BHASKAR

Program Officer

A BHASKAR RAJ

Program Associate

ANNU SHARMA

Admin & Finance Officer