Global health challenges in lead poisoning prevention

Although new lead poisoning prevention recommendations presented to CDC will impact approximately 450,000 children in the U.S., the number of kids affected in developing countries will number in the tens of millions. This talk will provide an overview of the most significant sources of lead exposure in developing countries (including contributions from lead paint and the lead battery industry) and cover the range of emerging responses. The case will be made for why global health programs should prioritize lead poisoning prevention to improve nutritional status, increase educational opportunity, and further economic development goals. Information will be provided on global efforts to eliminate lead in paint with the formation of the Global Alliance to Eliminate Lead in Paint under the International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM). In addition, we will address current efforts to control exposures from lead battery manufacturing and recycling operations including initiatives to encourage environmental certification with the Better Environmental Sustainability Targets (BEST) Standard and actions taken by the Commission on Environmental Cooperation (CEC) under the NAFTA framework to address exports of used lead batteries from the U.S. to Mexico.