Global Lead Pollution Map

Lead Data

Exposure data includes the following estimates for each country:

Number of children (19 and under) with blood lead levels (BLL) over 5 ug/dl. This is higher than the current WHO and CDC level of concern of 3.5 ug/dl. Children above this threshold are likely to have reduced IQ, increased developmental disabilities, and other significant health and societal problems.
Number of children with BLL over 10 ug/dl.
Average Blood Lead Level (BLL) for that country
Premature deaths attributed to lead (IHME 2019). Deaths are attributed to increased risk of cardiovascular disease
Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) attributed to lead (IHME 2019)

Data is provided by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, utilizing their Burden of Disease dataset for 2019. Source: Pure Earth/UNICEF.

Pure Earth

The Rapid Market Screening program aims to enhance our collective understanding of consumer products and foods that contribute to lead poisoning in low- and middle-income countries.

By analyzing lead concentrations in thousands of products and foods from markets across 25 low- and middle-income countries, the Rapid Market Screening (RMS) aims to identify and highlight lead exposure sources that deserve more attention.

LEEP

The Lead Exposure Elimination Project (LEEP) is a global initiative to eliminate lead exposure in low- and middle-income countries. LEEP provides detailed information on lead exposure sources, levels of contamination, and the impact of lead poisoning on public health. The LEEP data includes lead concentrations in consumer products and foods from markets across 25 countries.

Country Profile

Review national statistics, policy initiatives, and studies on lead exposure.

LeadPollution.org is a repository of reputable data related to lead (Pb) exposures around the world. It is intended for researchers and policy makers globally.

This interactive map is a central repository, by country, for data sets, research, regulatory information and more pertaining to the global health crisis of lead exposure and poisoning. The intent of the website is to increase awareness, understand the drivers of this crisis, and accelerate the pace of solutions.

The website was initially established to visualize the data presented in The Toxic Truth, authored by Pure Earth and UNICEF. Initial data was sourced from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, utilizing their Burden of Disease dataset for 2019. Additional data from a World Bank publication in Lancet Planetary Health in September 2023, expanding the estimates of cardiovascular deaths and economic impact is also included. Data on country activities related to lead, collected from desk reviews by the Global Alliance on Health and Pollution are added. Finally, details of Pure Earth’s Rapid Marketplace Survey of 2023 are also included. Additional layers will be added to the map as research and data sets become available.

If you have data or other documentation to add to the map, email leadpollution@pureearth.org.

Data Sources:

Last updated: August 2024

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