KARACHI: A recent international study presents a compelling case for a swift global phase-out of lead, classified as a potent neurotoxin, endangering public health, ecosystems and economy worldwide.

Led by Stanford University, the study is co-authored by experts from renowned institutions, including Aga Khan University (AKU), Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, University of Southern California, and the Centre Scientifique de Monaco.

“Why do we allow trillions of dollars of damage to human health, entire ecosystems, and the global economy to accrue for the sake of $100 billion in benefits?” asks Dr Zafar Fatmi, Section Head of Environmental, Occupational Health, and Climate Change at AKU Community Health Sciences in the research paper published in the Lancet Planetary Health.

In Pakistan, he points out, a substantial population remains at risk from contaminated soil, water, and food sources, especially those in urban centers.

In Pakistan, a substantial population remains at risk from contaminated soil, water and food sources, says Dr Zafar Fatmi

“Lead enters our environment through vehicles, industrial activities, and especially through low-cost lead-acid batteries commonly used in households and businesses. Exposure to lead is affecting children’s cognitive functions, lowering IQ scores, and harming adults’ health, leading to significant productivity losses,” he explained.

The authors argue that despite its limited economic value, lead’s impact on health, productivity, and ecosystems is staggering, affecting life expectancy, cognitive development, and environmental health worldwide.

The paper reveals that 5.2 million tonnes of lead entered the environment in 2022 alone, largely driven by demand for low-cost lead-acid batteries.

“Lead pollution endangers ecosystems and harms organisms across the food chain, from plants and animals to humans, contributing to 5.5 million premature deaths annually from cardiovascular disease and resulting in 765 million lost IQ points among children,” the paper says.

Beyond health impacts, lead is responsible for significant losses in productivity due to its neurotoxic effects, including reduced brain function, cognitive impairment, and behaviour changes.

The paper asserts that readily available, safer alternatives make lead’s continued use and production both outdated and economically unwise.

Notably, lead-based products generate less than $100 billion annually, an amount dwarfed by the economic and societal costs of lead-related health burdens, premature death, and lost productivity.

The authors urge a comprehensive approach to lead removal, including a proposed phase-out by 2035, a tax on lead products, and international regulations to classify lead as toxic waste.

Given the limitations of current recycling practices in many regions, particularly low- and middle-income countries, the paper advocates for a paradigm shift, pushing for safer, lead-free alternatives and enhanced regulatory frameworks.

“The data is clear: the cost to human health and the environment is simply too high to ignore,” Dr Fatmi emphasises. The study also suggests that a global treaty could inspire a multi-pronged approach, including donor-funded research into alternatives, policy initiatives, and investment in low-cost substitutes.

This collaborative work signifies a growing movement among scientists and policy experts to end lead exposure and foster a healthier, more sustainable global economy.

Published in Dawn, November 9th, 2024