Lead Poisoning in India

Why in news?

• India bears the world’s highest health and economic burden due to lead poisoning.

About Lead Poisoning:

• It is a type of poisoning that occurs when lead accumulates in the body, often over a period of months or years.
• Children are particularly vulnerable to lead poisoning because their bodies are still developing.
• India to be home to a major chunk of children (275 million of the 800 million) poisoned by lead globally.
• 23 states exceed the permissible blood lead level of 5 µg/dL margin (WHO safe limit)
• Most affected states:
  • Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh.
• Deaths due to lead poisoning have continued to raise in India even though lead use in petrol — a key source — was phased out by 2000 in the country.

Common Sources of Lead Exposure:

• Lead in water from the use of leaded pipes
• Lead from active industry, such as mining and the unsound recycling of used lead-acid batteries (ULABs)
• Lead-based paint and pigments
• Leaded gasoline (which has declined considerably in recent decades, but was a major historical source)
• Lead solder in food cans
• Lead in spices, cosmetics, ayurvedic medicines, toys and other consumer products.
• Children are also exposed to lead in-utero through exposure of their mothers, with adverse impacts on neurobehavioural development.

Treatment:

• Lead poisoning can be treated, but any damage caused cannot be reversed.

Steps taken by the government:

• Lead Occupational Safety and Health Administration Regulations
  • To protect workers from toxic metal exposure.
• Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011.
• Battery Waste Management Rules, 2022

PRACTICE QUESTION:

UPSC 2012

Lead, ingested or inhaled, is a health hazard. After the addition of lead to petrol has been banned, what still are the sources of lead poisoning?

1. Smelting units

2. Pens and pencils

3. Paints

4. Hair oils and cosmetics

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 1, 2 and 3 only

(b) 1 and 3 only

(c) 2 and 4 only

(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Answer