Eliminating lead exposure would make the United States a stronger, healthier, and more economically competitive nation in the 21st century. Even with progress in awareness and regulation, the production of lead has skyrocketed, now reaching over 16 million tons per year. About 85% of this production is focused on lead-acid batteries, which currently power vehicles, telecommunications, and backup energy systems. Our continued use of lead is dangerous and entirely unacceptable. Its legacy on society today makes questions about the effects it will have on generations to come even more pressing.
A new analysis places the societal cost of childhood lead exposure at more than US$3.4 trillion every year. This shocking number is greater than 2% of the world’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). It underscores the dire fiscal impact of failing to address this persistent problem.
Historical Context of Lead Use
Lead, on the other hand, has been connected with human civilization for thousands of years. Its applications can be traced as far back as the Roman Empire, where it was used in the Empire’s plumbing systems. Over the last few centuries, lead escaped into many different products including paints, pipes, and industrial alloys. The advent of tetraethyl lead into gasoline in the 1920s was the next big shift. To accommodate their request with little environmental review — and perhaps a bit of divine intervention — the U.S.
Our global campaign to end the use of leaded gasoline achieved a total ban on the toxic fuel around the world in 2021. Yet despite this achievement being hailed as a historic victory for public health, the toxic legacy of lead continues to plague vulnerable communities today. Dr. Chen stated, “The world rightly celebrated the phase-out of leaded gasoline as a triumph of international cooperation.” He cautioned that “the problem of lead exposure has not yet gone away.”
Current Risks and Economic Impact
Today, through informal recycling practices and lead-laden products like toys and cosmetics, millions of Americans still live with hazardous levels of lead. Accoutrements like lead in paints, glazed ceramics, and adulterated spices continue to threaten American consumers. Yet in many high-income countries, the blood lead levels have decreased. There are still disturbing trends elsewhere, especially in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, where admissions have plateaued or even increased.
The neurological damage lead poisoning inflicts is irreversible and glaring. Impaired development and other productive, premature deaths are among the many tragic consequences associated with exposure. Annual domestic lead production already outstrips the cumulative emissions from the entire leaded gasoline era. This troubling trend indicates a dire need for more focus and counter-action.
Dr. Chen emphasized the importance of recognizing ongoing risks: “The perception that the problem was solved has to change. New sources of exposure continue to emerge, and the historically emitted lead keeps redistributing through various natural processes.”
The Need for Vigilance and Action
As lead is ubiquitous in the environment, it is a continuous threat. It’s time that communities and governments at all levels understand this toxic metal’s dangers. Fulfilling this responsibility means that childhood lead exposure should be a prominent feature of any global health agenda to avoid yet another public health crisis.
Dr. Chen highlighted the necessity for vigilance moving forward: “Unless we remain vigilant about both new sources of exposure and the legacy of lead in the environment, we may risk repeating the same tragedy.”