The Global Burden of Lead Toxicity Attributable to Informal Used Lead-Acid Battery Sites

Bret Ericson,Phillip Landrigan,Mark Patrick Taylor,Joseph Frostad,Jack Caravanos

doi:10.1016/j.aogh.2016.10.015

Abstract

BackgroundPrior calculations of the burden of disease from environmental lead exposure in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) have not included estimates of the burden from lead-contaminated sites because of a lack of exposure data, resulting in an underestimation of a serious public health problem. ObjectiveWe used publicly available statistics and detailed site assessment data to model the number of informal used lead-acid battery (ULAB) recyclers and the resulting exposures in 90 LMICs. We estimated blood lead levels (BLLs) using the US Environment Protection Agency’s Integrated Exposure Uptake Biokinetic Model for Lead in Children and Adult Lead Model. Finally, we used data and algorithms generated by the World Health Organization to calculate the number of attributable disability adjusted life years (DALYs). ResultsWe estimated that there are 10,599 to 29,241 informal ULAB processing sites where human health is at risk in the 90 countries we reviewed. We further estimated that 6 to 16.8 million people are exposed at these sites and calculate a geometric mean BLL for exposed children (0-4 years of age) of 31.15 μg/dL and a geometric mean BLL for adults of 21.2 μg/dL. We calculated that these exposures resulted in 127,248 to 1,612,476 DALYs in 2013. ConclusionsInformal ULAB processing is currently causing widespread lead poisoning in LMICs. There is an urgent need to identify and mitigate exposures at existing sites and to develop appropriate policy responses to minimize the creation of new sites.

Highlights

Contaminated soils at polluted “hot spots”dactive and abandoned mines, smelters, industrial facilities, and chemical waste sitesdthreaten the environment and human health globally
We estimate that there are 10,599 to 29,241 informal used lead-acid battery (ULAB) processing sites where human health is at risk in the 90 countries that we reviewed
We calculated a geometric mean blood lead levels (BLLs) for children at ULAB sites of 31.15 mg/dL and a geometric mean BLL for adults of 21.2 mg/dL. We estimated that these combined exposures resulted in 127,248 to 1,612,476 disability adjusted life years (DALYs) in 2013

Summary

Introduction

Contaminated soils at polluted “hot spots”dactive and abandoned mines, smelters, industrial facilities, and chemical waste sitesdthreaten the environment and human health globally. In high-income countries (HICs), substantial progress has been made toward identifying and remediating hazardous waste sites and in reducing exposures and disease. In low- and medium-income countries (LMICs), by contrast, the extent and severity of soil contamination at these sites has not been adequately mapped or quantified.[1] Information on the burden of disease attributable to hazardous exposures at contaminated. ULABS and Toxicity sites has not previously been available for inclusion in estimates of the global burden of disease by either the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) or the World Health Organization (WHO).[2,3] Toxic Sites Identification Program. To close the information gap regarding soil pollution at industrial hot spots in LMICs and its effects on human health, Pure Earth (PE; formerly Blacksmith Institute) launched the Toxic Sites Identification Program (TSIP) in 2008.4. Prior calculations of the burden of disease from environmental lead exposure in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) have not included estimates of the burden from lead-contaminated sites because of a lack of exposure data, resulting in an underestimation of a serious public health problem

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