Childhood lead poisoning
Overview
Although many countries have initiated programmes to lower the level of
lead in the environment, human exposure to lead remains of concern to
health care providers and public health officials worldwide. For over 35
years the World Health Organization and the International Programme on
Chemical Safety have been concerned about the adverse effects on health
of lead in the environment.
The evaluation of human health risks arising
from foodborne lead has been carried out by the World Health Organization
on four occasions since 1972. In addition, health-based guidance values
for lead in water, air and the workplace have been developed by various
task groups convened by the World Health Organization. Environmental
Health Criteria 3: Lead, published in 1977, examined the effects of lead on
human health, and Environmental Health Criteria 85: Lead – Environmental
Aspects was published in 1989. During the past 10 years, a large body of
knowledge on the effects of lead on neurobehavioural development of
children at low levels of exposure has accumulated.
This booklet focuses on what is known about childhood lead poisoning,
an entirely preventable disease.