Lead exposure in African children: contemporary sources and concerns

Africa lags behind other regions, in putting in place the fundamental measures needed to effectively protect people against lead from a range of other sources. Studies undertaken in a range of African countries point to ongoing lead exposure from multiple sources in African homes, schools and workplaces. These include lead paint, mines and smelters, battery manufacturing and recycling plants, automotive repair facilities, lead-related cottage industries, hobbies and recreation involving lead (such as fishing, jewellery making and the use of lead ammunition), geophagic practices under certain conditions, the use of certain traditional medicines, and the consumption of adulterated alcoholic “home brews”, to mention but a few. 

This report shows that exposure to lead results in a range of health, social and education effects that have a direct and huge effect on African economic productivity and prospects. 

The detrimental health, social and educational effects of lead exposure exert an enormous economic cost on African economies. With respect to the loss of IQ points alone, health economists conservatively estimate that around US$134.7 billion are lost to the African continental economy each year because of lead exposure. In order to protect the African populace against lead exposure and poisoning, there is an urgent need for a concerted programme of action at regional and country level that includes research and surveillance, regulation of the lead content of paint, intensive public education and awareness campaigns, implementation of worker protection programmes that also reduce para-occupational exposure, environmental assessments, the identification of high risk settings, processes and groups, screening of vulnerable or high risk groups, and rehabilitation programmes where necessary.