PARIS, France (AFP) \u2014 Up to 800 million children around the world are being poisoned by lead from water and air pollution, the United Nations warned Thursday in a special report on the “massive and previously unknown” health crisis.<\/p>\n
One out of every three children is estimated to have levels of lead \u2014 a potent neurotoxin \u2014 in their blood that requires immediate action to prevent long-lasting damage, the UN’s children’s fund said.<\/p>\n
“With few early symptoms, lead silently wreaks havoc on children’s health and development, with possibly fatal consequences,” said Henrietta Fore, UNICEF executive director.<\/p>\n
“Knowing how widespread lead pollution is \u2014 and understanding the destruction it causes to individual lives and communities \u2014 must inspire urgent action to protect children once and for all.”<\/p>\n
Childhood lead exposure has been linked to a range of behavioural problems, as well as kidney damage and cardiovascular conditions later in life.<\/p>\n
The problem, which occurs overwhelmingly in South Asia, is estimated to cost low- and middle-income countries almost $1 trillion over the children’s lifetimes.<\/p>\n
Lead pollution comes from a variety of sources, including open-air furnaces, paint and petrol.<\/p>\n
Lead piping in many countries also produces dangerous levels of the chemical in drinking water supplies.<\/p>\n
The UN report said a leading source of the toxin was un-recycled or poorly disposed-of car batteries. In countries where child lead poisoning is most prevalent, the number of vehicles on the road has doubled since 2000.<\/p>\n
The analysis of childhood lead exposure was compiled by the Institute of Health Metrics Evaluation, a leading global health research group partly funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.<\/p>\n
It found that while blood lead levels among children in richer countries had declined over the years, in poorer nations the problem had increased drastically.<\/p>\n
“The good news is that lead can be recycled safely without exposing workers, their children, and surrounding neighbourhoods,” said Richard Fuller, president of Pure Earth, a charity that co-lead the study.<\/p>\n
“People can be educated about the dangers of lead and empowered to protect themselves and their children.”<\/p>\n
He said the economic and social returns on investing in reducing lead pollution could be “enormous”.<\/p>\n
“Improved health, increased productivity, higher IQs, less violence, and brighter futures for millions of children across the planet,” said Fuller.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
PARIS, France (AFP) \u2014 Up to 800 million children around the world are being poisoned by lead from water and air pollution, the United Nations warned Thursday in a special report on the “massive and 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