Source: New Age

Studies find lead in blood of childrenLead pollution in Bangladesh has turned out to be a serious threat to children as the heavy metal has been found alarmingly in blood of all children brought under seperate studies.The Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control and Research, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh, Pure Earth Bangladesh and Environment and Social Development Organisation conducted the studies, the findings of which were revealed in a seminar.The seminar titled ‘Lead Poisoning in Bangladesh: Research Evidence for Urgent Action’ was organised by the Directorate General of Health Services and UNICEF at the Pan Pacific Hotel Sonargaon on Tuesday.IEDCR study found lead in blood of all children they tested revealing that some 65 per cent of children had above 3.5 micro-gram of led per deciliter whereas average was 5.63 µg/dl.According to the WHO, there should be no lead in a child’s body.The study was conducted between July and September in four districts -- Khulna, Tangail, Sylhet and Patuakhali on 980 children bellow 18 years old.IEDCR’s senior research officer Nawroz Afreen said that of the sample, there were 531 male and 449 female. Khulna and Tangail were found to be high risk districts.The UNICEF in a study in 2020 estimated that 35.5 million children were affected with lead in their blood above 5 μg/dL, making the country the fourth most-seriously hit in the world in terms of the number of children affected.Lead damages the brain of babies and children causing them lifelong neurological, cognitive, and physical impairment, said experts.Icddr,b also conducted the same study on 500 children recently and also found lead among all. It revealed its findings at the same event in Dhaka.A separate study conducted by Pure Earth between December 2021 and September 2022 detected a high level of lead in local toys, paints, aluminum and ceramic cookware, pigments, and sweetener containers among others.The study in four cities -- Dhaka, Khulna, Rajshahi and Barishal found lead in 96 samples out of 367.Separate studies also unveiled turmeric and paint as two large sources of lead in Bangladesh.According to physicians and experts, lead level in blood among children is very alarming and it silently wreaks havoc on children›s health.If actions are not taken immediately, the country might face severe consequences as the poison affects mental and physical health of the children, they advised.Experts said that the government was not ready to respond to the severe issue and urged the agencies responsible to work together to combat lead poisoning.Environment minister Shahab Uddin was as the chief guest at the report launching event.He promised that the government was taking initiative to save people from lead pollution.Shahab Uddin added that approximately 85 per cent of lead was used in lead-acid batteries whereas paints and spices were also contributing much to lead poisoning.UNICEF representative in Bangladesh Sheldon Yett has said that it is clear that there is a problem and there is a solution.‘It is also clear what might happen if it is not addressed immediately,’ he said.He pointed out that a ban on lead would hamper industrial growth of the country but the government must control and monitor its use strictly.A 2022 Study on lead-based paint by ESDO found a devastating scenario in the industrial paints where lead was found in 50 per cent of the samples.Bangladesh Paint Manufacturers› Association general secretary Arun Mitra said that there were over 100 paint manufacturers in Bangladesh.‘We have 36 members following a standard use of led but the rest are using lead unabated,’ he said demanding duty free for lead free raw material importing.He also declared that they will go for lead free production soon.DGHS director Aminul Islam chair the event where among others icddr,b acting executive director Shams El Arifeen, Pure Earth’s country director Mahfuzar Rahman and DGHS line director Robed Amin also spoke among others.