Developing world's children are lead poisoning's worst sufferers -Governance Now

Developing world's children are lead poisoning's worst sufferers

Study conducted in 37 countries

GN Bureau | August 17, 2011

A report in the September issue of the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene says that children in developing nations are the worst sufferers of lead poisoning.

“The geometric mean blood lead level (BLL) of children residing near battery plants in developing countries is about 13-fold greater than the levels observed among children in the United States,” the report says.

It further says, “The blood lead and airborne lead exposure concentrations for battery workers were substantially higher in developing countries than in the United States.”

The study has compiled information from 37 countries generated between 1993 to 2010.

The report names the battery industries as the prime culprit as it consumes 80 percent of global lead production. In several developing nations, battery manufacturing is expected to double its production in five to ten years. Lead-based batteries are used in cars, motorcycles, electric vehicles, solar power systems, cellular phones and for back-up power supplies.

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