The 13th International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week (ILPPW) was observed from 19 to 25 October 2025 to raise global awareness about the hazards of lead exposure, especially among children.
The 2025 campaign emphasizes that no level of lead exposure is safe and urges governments and organizations worldwide to act to eliminate lead use, particularly in paints and consumer products.
About the Campaign
Organized by:
- World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and the Global Alliance to Eliminate Lead Paint (GAELP).
Objective:
- To promote actions at global, national, and local levels to prevent lead exposure and protect public health, particularly children.
Focus of 2025 Campaign:
- Eliminate lead paint globally through legislation.
- Highlight that even low levels of lead can cause irreversible health impacts.
- Promote awareness among governments, civil societies, and health organizations to regulate lead-containing products.
Health Impact of Lead Exposure
- Toxicant: Lead is a highly toxic metal affecting multiple organ systems.
- Majorly impacts:
- Brain and Nervous System – causes irreversible neurological damage, especially in children.
- Cardiovascular System – increases risk of heart disease and hypertension.
- Kidneys, Gastrointestinal Tract, and Blood System – leads to anemia and renal damage.
- Children at Risk: Young children are more vulnerable as they absorb 4–5 times more lead than adults.
- Long-Term Impact: Even minimal exposure can lead to reduced IQ, learning disabilities, and behavioural issues.
Global Data (IHME – Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, 2021)
- Deaths: Over 1.5 million deaths worldwide due to lead exposure.
- Burden of Disease: Over 33 million Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) lost globally.
- Major cause of deaths: Cardiovascular diseases linked to long-term lead exposure.
Major Sources of Lead Exposure
Industrial Activities:
- Mining, smelting, recycling, and manufacturing processes.
Lead-Acid Batteries:
- The largest source of lead consumption globally (used in vehicles).
Consumer Products:
- Paints and pigments, solder, stained glass, ceramic glazes, ammunition, toys, jewellery, cosmetics (e.g. kohl, sindoor).
Traditional Medicines & Spices:
- Lead contamination in home remedies and spices, notably in India, Mexico, and Vietnam.
Water Systems:
- Drinking water from lead pipes or plumbing systems using lead solder joints.
Global and National Action
Success So Far:
- Ban on lead in petrol (global achievement).
- Increasing number of countries implementing laws banning lead-based paints.
Remaining Challenge:
- Millions of children still exposed to lead in households and schools due to legacy contamination and lack of regulation.
ILPPW 2025 Call to Action:
- Urges nations to adopt binding laws banning lead paint production and use.
- Encourages awareness programs, blood lead level monitoring, and safe disposal of lead waste.
Significance of ILPPW
- Reinforces the message that lead poisoning is entirely preventable.
- Promotes collaboration among governments, NGOs, and international agencies.
- Supports SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) by eliminating hazardous substances from the environment.
- Strengthens child health initiatives under WHO’s Chemical Safety Programme.
Key Facts
| Topic | Key Facts |
| Lead Symbol (Chemical Element) | Pb (from Latin Plumbum); Atomic Number – 82 |
| Major International Bodies | WHO, UNEP, and Global Alliance to Eliminate Lead Paint (GAELP) |
| WHO Headquarters | Geneva, Switzerland |
| UNEP Headquarters | Nairobi, Kenya |
| India’s Lead Regulation Authority | Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) |
| Indian Standard for Lead in Paints | Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) Notification (IS 15489:2019) – limits lead content to below 90 parts per million (ppm) |
| India’s Lead Paint Regulation Year | Implemented from 2017, banning lead-based decorative paints above 90 ppm |
| Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) | Based at the University of Washington, USA |
| First ILPPW Held | 2013 |
| Main Objective | Global elimination of lead paint and prevention of lead poisoning, especially in children |