Eighth International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week 2020

The eighth International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week (ILPPW) takes place on 25–31 October 2020. ILPPW is an initiative of the Global Alliance to Eliminate Lead Paint (the Lead Paint Alliance), which is jointly led by the UN Environment Programme and WHO.  

International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week (ILPPW) raises awareness and promotes actions to address the health impacts of lead exposure, especially on children, pregnant women, and workers. During the week, governments, academia, civil society organizations, and industry advance efforts to prevent childhood lead poisoning, and accelerate efforts to phase out the use of lead in paint.

Lead poisoning and health (Key Facts)

• Lead is a cumulative toxicant that affects multiple body systems and is particularly harmful to young children.
• Lead in the body is distributed to the brain, liver, kidney and bones. It is stored in the teeth and bones, where it accumulates over time. Human exposure is usually assessed through the measurement of lead in blood.
• Lead in bone is released into blood during pregnancy and becomes a source of exposure to the developing fetus.
• There is no level of exposure to lead that is known to be without harmful effects.
• Lead exposure is preventable.
• Lead exposure can have serious consequences for the health of children.
• At high levels of exposure, lead attacks the brain and central nervous system to cause coma, convulsions and even death.
• Children who survive severe lead poisoning may be left with mental retardation and behavioural disorders.
• At lower levels of exposure that cause no obvious symptoms lead is now known to produce a spectrum of injury across multiple body systems. In particular lead can affect children’s brain development resulting in reduced intelligence quotient (IQ), behavioural changes such as reduced attention span and increased antisocial behavior, and reduced educational attainment.
• Lead exposure also causes anaemia, hypertension, renal impairment, immunotoxicity and toxicity to the reproductive organs.
• The neurological and behavioural effects of lead are believed to be irreversible.
  
  MORE INFO: WHO

Actions for Government, Industry and Civil Society

What can governments do?

• What can governments do for #ILPPW2020? Governments without legal limits should establish and implement limits, building on the Model Law & Guidance for Regulating Lead Paint, developed by the Global Alliance to Eliminate Lead Paint. https://www.unenvironment.org/resources/publication/model-law-and-guidance-regulating-lead-paint

• What can governments do for #ILPPW2020? Where lead paint laws exist but are not protective of public health, governments are encouraged to strengthen regulations. Take all necessary measures to ensure full compliance with legal limits. https://www.who.int/campaigns/international-lead-poisoning-prevention-week/2020

• What can governments do for #ILPPW2020? Serve as government “champions” to share experiences and encourage others to take action in passing laws on lead paint, especially through regional efforts and activities. https://www.who.int/campaigns/international-lead-poisoning-prevention-week/2020

• What can governments do for #ILPPW2020?  Spread awareness, including on-line and in social media, and organize events to promote action to address lead paint. Register your event here: https://www.who.int/campaigns/international-lead-poisoning-prevention-week/2020

What can industry do?

• What can industry do for #ILPPW2020? Voluntarily stop the manufacture, import and sale of lead paint where legal limits are not yet in place, and show commitment to comply with a legal limit where it exists or is being established. hhttps://www.who.int/campaigns/international-lead-poisoning-prevention-week/2020

• What can industry do for #ILPPW2020? Identify ways for regional paint associations and large manufacturers to support other companies in stopping their use of lead additives, and assist national governments in setting legal limits. https://www.who.int/campaigns/international-lead-poisoning-prevention-week/2020 

• What can industry do for #ILPPW2020? Act as “champions” by engaging specifically with small and medium enterprises to encourage their reformulation of lead paint. https://www.who.int/campaigns/international-lead-poisoning-prevention-week/2020

• What can industry do for #ILPPW2020? Engage with governments to support the development and implementation of protective legal limits on lead in paint.  https://www.who.int/campaigns/international-lead-poisoning-prevention-week/2020

• What can industry do? Spread awareness, including on-line and in social media, of the risks of lead paint during industry events and through #ILPPW2020. Register campaign events here: https://www.who.int/campaigns/international-lead-poisoning-prevention-week/2020/registration

What can civil society do?

• What can civil society organizations do for #ILPPW2020? Engage with governments and industry to support development and implementation of legal limits on lead in paint and encourage reformulation of lead paint.  https://www.who.int/campaigns/international-lead-poisoning-prevention-week/2020

• What can civil society organizations do for #ILPPW2020? Educate policy makers, parents and others on the dangers of lead paint and how to prevent lead poisoning; and continue paint sampling studies to support new and stronger legal limits. https://www.who.int/campaigns/international-lead-poisoning-prevention-week/2020

• What can civil society organizations do for #ILPPW2020? The legal community can urge lawyers, firms, and bar associations to support legal limits on lead paint through pro bono support and educational initiatives. https://www.who.int/campaigns/international-lead-poisoning-prevention-week/2020

• What can civil society organizations do for #ILPPW2020? Health organizations can engage the medical community and health care providers, reach out to schools, and engage with governments and industry to support legal limits on lead in paint. https://www.who.int/campaigns/international-lead-poisoning-prevention-week/2020

• What can civil society organizations do for #ILPPW2020?  Conduct awareness raising and consumer education about the hazards of lead paint. Register your event here: https://www.who.int/campaigns/international-lead-poisoning-prevention-week/2020

#BanLeadPaint #ILPPW2020

Source of info: Eighth International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week