The WHO urged countries to strengthen prevention efforts ahead of International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, observed from October 18 to October 26.
Fewer than half of countries have confirmed legally binding controls on lead paint, despite lead exposure being entirely preventable. “Lead poisoning should not be stealing children’s potential in 2026,” WHO Department of Environment, Climate Change, One Health and Migration Interim Director Bruce Gordon said.
“We know where many exposures come from and we know how to prevent them.”
Gordon called on governments to remove lead from products and environments before the toxic substance entered children’s bloodstreams.
Lead exposure can come from paint, cookware, cosmetics, contaminated spices, informal recycling and industrial activities.
There is no known safe level of exposure. Even relatively low levels can cause irreversible harm, particularly among children whose brains and nervous systems are still developing.
Lead poisoning can damage several organs and contribute to cardiovascular and kidney diseases among adults.
Children may experience permanent effects on brain development and general health, including learning difficulties and behavioural problems.
Symptoms are not always immediately visible, meaning exposure can remain undetected until substantial damage has occurred.
WHO Member States have mandated the agency to develop a Global Action Plan on Lead Mitigation. The proposed plan will be presented to the World Health Assembly in 2027.
WHO also plans to launch a technical package providing countries with practical guidance on identifying major sources of exposure and selecting effective interventions.
The package will support governments in strengthening regulations, improving enforcement and monitoring progress.
WHO joined partners in the Lead Poisoning Prevention Initiative in 2025 to strengthen laboratory capacity for testing blood lead levels and enable earlier detection.
Technical support and capacity development will be provided in Brazil, India and Nepal.
Six sub-Saharan African countries will also receive support: Ethiopia, Ghana, Malawi, Rwanda, South Africa and Tanzania. “Countries now need to move upstream, removing lead from products and environments before it reaches a child’s bloodstream,” Gordon said.
–UN/ChannelAfrica–
