On Lead Poisoning – ‘Lead exposure caused millions to lose health’

Source: This post on _ has been created based on the article “Lead exposure caused millions to lose health” published in “Times of India” on 6^th January 2024.

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 2 Social Justice – Issues relating to Health.

News: The article discusses the impact of toxic chemicals, particularly Lead, on children.

Why are children particularly vulnerable to such chemicals?

Children are much more sensitive to hazardous exposures than adults. This is because:

1. They are growing and developing: These development processes are very complex and operate in a strict time sequence. A toxic chemical like lead can disrupt those delicate processes.
2. Exposure of mother also supplements: Any chemical that gets into the body of an expectant mother also enters her baby and damages its tissues.

What is the impact of toxic chemical exposure on children?

A range of diseases may result due to toxic chemical exposure. These include:

1. If the child’s brain is impacted, there could be a loss of IQ and an increased risk of autism.
2. If a lung is damaged, there is a greater risk of asthma.
3. If a chemical disrupts the hormones or endocrine glands, it may lead to birth defects of reproductive organs.
4. Low exposure may also lead to shortening of attention spans and disruptions in behavior of children.

What are the sources of lead that have impacted people’s health?

In the 20th century, it began to be put into consumer products from paint to toys. This has now been abandoned.

In the mid-20th century, lead started being added to petrol in large quantities as a chemical called tetraethyl lead, intended to help automobile engines work better. This has now been phased out.

Other sources include batteries and battery recycling plants.

Note: Lead is a chemical element (atomic number 82). It is a heavy metal. It has been recognized as a toxic chemical.

What are other common toxic chemicals?

1. Pesticides such as Organophosphates cause brain damage in children exposed in the womb.
2. Weed-killers or herbicides such as Glyphosate is known to cause cancer.
3. Asbestos is also very toxic. It is used in building materials, roofing tiles, concrete asbestos pipes, etc. It is cheap, durable and resists heat and fire — but it’s also a powerful cause of cancer of the lungs, throat and ovaries.

Question for practice:

Toxic chemicals such as Lead are polluting the environment we live in, especially harming children. List the harmful effects. Why are children particularly vulnerable to such chemicals?