Cumulative population blood lead levels, Fuller et al., BMJ Global Health, 2025

A new tool, the cumulative population blood lead level (alternately 'Lead Burden Index'), combines average lead blood levels with population size. It can act as an indicator of gross intellectual impairment or cardiovascular disease. This metric can be used to estimate the burden of lead in differing countries or regions and from differing sources of lead exposure. The tool is instructive for donors, governments and United Nations agencies when comparing a range of interventions for viability or cost-effectiveness.

BMJ Global Health, 2025

Rapid Market Screening to assess lead concentrations in consumer products across 25 low- and middle-income countries, Pure Earth, 2024

Between 2021 and 2023, Pure Earth's Rapid Market Screening program analyzed common products from markets in 25 low- and middle-income countries for their lead content to determine whether they are plausible sources of exposure. Research teams systematically collected and analyzed 5,007 consumer products.

Pure Earth, 2024

Global health burden and cost of lead exposure in children and adults: a health impact and economic modelling analysis, Larsen, Bjorn et al., The Lancet Planetary Health, 2023

In this modelling study, researchers used country blood lead level estimates from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019. Researchers estimated IQ loss in the global population of children younger than 5 years, the cost of IQ loss, cardiovascular deaths due to lead exposure among people aged 25 years or older, and the welfare cost of premature mortality.

The Lancet Planetary Health, 2023

Lead Exposure Elimination Project Research on Lead in Spices and Paint, 2021-2024

The Lead Exposure Elimination Project (LEEP) works to end childhood lead exposure by driving effective policies to eliminate lead poisoning across the globe. Between 2021 and 2024, LEEP conducted studies on lead in paint and spices in 18 countries.

Pure Earth, 2021-2024

IHME Global Burden of Disease, 2021

Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, 2021

The Toxic Truth Report, Pure Earth and UNICEF, 2020

Pure Earth and UNICEF, 2020

IHME Global Burden of Disease, 2019

Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, 2019

Toxic Sites Identification Program, Pure Earth

Pure Earth, Ongoing