Context
Studies show that more than 50% of children in India had blood lead levels over the recommended level of 5 micrograms per decilitre (g/dL) established by the World Health Organisation, indicating that lead poisoning is still a hidden problem in India.
  
What is Lead?
When consumed or inhaled, lead, a heavy metal element, can be harmful to people and cause serious health problems, especially in large doses. Leading sources of lead exposure include lead-based paints, lead-acid batteries, contaminated soil, contaminated water, and occupational hazards in industries including mining, smelting, and battery recycling.
  
Lead poisoning: What is it?
The medical illness known as lead poisoning is brought on when the body of a person develops excessive quantities of lead, a dangerous metal. 
Particularly among children, this illness can lead to a variety of health issues, including learning impairments, neurological abnormalities, stunted growth, and harm to key organs.
  
Effects of Lead on Children: 
·         Lead, a potent neurotoxin, permanently harms children's growing brains.
·         Infants and children under the age of five get the most severe effects because their developing brains are affected before they reach full maturity. Because of this, they develop lifelong neurological, cognitive, and physical disabilities.
·         Additionally, there are links between lead exposure throughout childhood and behavioural difficulties, an increase in violent crime, and mental health problems.
·         The consequences are similarly severe for older children, increasing their risk of renal impairment and cardiovascular diseases in later life.
  

Concerns about Lead Poisoning in India: 
·         Elevated Childhood Exposure: Increased Childhood Exposure Research in 2021 found that over 200 million youngsters in India have blood lead levels above the WHO recommended standard.
·         Severe Health Consequences: Lead exposure can cause organ damage, growth restrictions, learning problems, and neurological impairments, particularly in young children.
·         Socioeconomic Implications: Educational gaps between wealthy and less wealthy countries are greatly exacerbated by lead exposure. Children who are affected frequently have obstacles to their academic and professional success, which affects the production of the country as a whole.
·         Affected States: Around 40% of the population has increased blood lead levels, with states like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Andhra Pradesh being major contributors.
 
Factors contributing to Lead Poisoning: 
·         Inadequate and unregulated recycling: lead-acid battery handling in recycling operations is informal and substandard.
·         Vehicle Ownership Surge: An increase in the number of vehicles being owned, along with a lack of infrastructure and suitable regulation for recycling vehicle batteries.
·         Hazardous Recycling Methods: People who participate in risky and occasionally illegal recycling activities often resort to rupturing battery casings, which causes acid leaks and lead dust pollution of the ground.
  
Governmental Initiatives to Reduce Lead Poisoning: 
·         National Programme for Prevention and Control: With a focus on preventing lead poisoning, the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Fluorosis, Endemic Skeletal Fluorosis, and Arsenicosis was introduced in 2010.
·         Import Restrictions on Non-Compliant Lead Acid Batteries: In 2013, the Ministry of Environment and Forests took action by placing import restrictions on lead acid batteries that do not meet compliance requirements.
·         National Health Mission (NHM): By providing healthcare services, including lead poisoning screening and treatment, the NHM plays a crucial role.
·         Lead Battery Waste Management Rules, 2016: Regulation The correct disposal and secure recycling of lead-acid batteries have been made easier by the establishment of these regulations in 2016.
·         Targeted Healthcare via National Programme for the Health Care of the Elderly (NPHCE): The NPHCE provides crucial healthcare services with a focus on the elderly, who are particularly vulnerable to lead poisoning.

Way forward to combat Lead Poisoning:  
·         Creating a strong regulatory framework: Establishing legal measures to establish health and safety requirements for lead-containing items.
·         Strengthen Regulation: Ensure that rules governing lead-free paints and water pipes are strictly enforced.
·         Monitoring system: Implementing an effective monitoring system, including household surveys to identify vulnerable groups, and a national blood lead level testing campaign.
·         Identification of Contaminated Zones: Conducting thorough investigations for lead-contaminated areas around the nation, with a focus on contamination near residential and educational facilities.
·         Advocate Sustainable Practices: Encourage the implementation of waste management and e-waste recycling activities to reduce the danger of lead contamination.

LTX Mains Question:
 Q. Analyse the extent of lead poisoning in India and the effects it has had on the health and educational systems. Examine the underlying causes and suggest appropriate policy measures for successful mitigation.