Lead Poisioning

• Lead poisoning, a pervasive yet oft-underestimated public health concern, has silently penetrated the landscapes of Odisha.
• Lead contamination in Odisha is primarily attributed to improper treatment of waste from industries and e-waste as well as the informal battery recycling sector, which affects the soil, water and subsequently the food chain.
• Sources of lead poisoning
  • Aside from contaminated drinking water, fish, vegetables, etc., grown in and around polluted water and soil, can cause indirect ingestion of lead and other harmful heavy metals.
  • Aluminium utensils, imported candy, adulterated spices, toxic paints, etc., are other sources of lead poisoning.
• Impact
  • Lead accumulates in the body and gets deposited in the bones and teeth.
  • It poses severe health risks, particularly to children with developing nervous systems in the form of cognitive impairments, developmental delays, behavioural disorders.
  • Adults experience adverse effects on cardiovascular health, kidneys and reproductive systems.
  • In pregnant women specifically, lead poisoning can lead to miscarriages, still birth, low birth weight and other complications.

Facts

• A Report of the World Health Organisation says that almost one million people die every year due to lead poisoning across the globe and 1,000-5,000 people die in Odisha, with the most vulnerable being children.