Lead Research for Action

Lead exposure is a neglected health crisis, impacting 1 in 3 children worldwide. The Global Burden of Disease estimates that lead exposure causes more deaths each year than malaria and HIV/AIDS combined, yet it receives less than 1% as much funding. In addition to causing 1.5 million deaths annually, lead exposure impairs cognitive development, reducing lifetime earnings and accounting for up to one-fifth of the learning gap between high- and low-income countries.

In most low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), we do not know what the main sources of lead exposure are. The list of likely culprits is long–metal cookware, cosmetics, spices, toys, paint, and more. Interest in eliminating lead has recently picked up, with over 25 countries signing onto the new Partnership for a Lead-Free Future. But governments and NGOs cannot prioritize all possible sources of exposure. They need to know where to focus their attention, which is why studies to identify the primary sources of exposure in each country are needed.

LeRA will conduct lead content studies on consumer products in LMICs to identify the main drivers of lead exposure in each country.  We are also open to pursuing other types of research that target important knowledge gaps in lead exposure.