1 in 3 children worldwide being poisoned by lead from water, air pollution, UN warns

The file photo shows children play in water pipes at a construction site on the banks of the Yamuna River in the northern Indian city of Allahabad, India.

Up to 800 million children around the world are being poisoned by lead from water and air pollution, the United Nations warned Thursday in a special report on the "massive and previously unknown" health crisis.

One out of every three children is estimated to have levels of lead — a potent neurotoxin — in their blood that requires immediate action to prevent long-lasting damage, the UN’s children’s fund said.

“With few early symptoms, lead silently wreaks havoc on children’s health and development, with possibly fatal consequences,” said Henrietta Fore, UNICEF executive director.

"Knowing how widespread lead pollution is -– and understanding the destruction it causes to individual lives and communities –- must inspire urgent action to protect children once and for all.”

Childhood lead exposure has been linked to a range of behavioral problems, as well as kidney damage and cardiovascular conditions later in life.

The problem, which occurs overwhelmingly in South Asia, is estimated to cost low- and middle-income countries almost $1 trillion over the children’s lifetimes. Lead pollution comes […]

Full article: 1 in 3 children worldwide being poisoned by lead from water, air pollution, UN warns