In Europe, early regulation of lead-containing products, such as paint, along with proper management of electronic waste and a ban on leaded petrol, has led to significant reductions in exposure. However, lead is still present in old pipes, paints and fine dust, and even in some imported products.
however, the situation is very different. According to UNICEF, about a third of children worldwide have dangerous levels of lead in their blood. The critical threshold is 5 micrograms per deciliter, above phone number list which cognitive impairment is observed. In low-income countries, such as India, children lose an average of 4 IQ points due to lead exposure. Globally, children under the age of five lost an estimated 765 million IQ points due to lead poisoning in 2019, 95 percent of which were in low- and middle-income countries.
Lead contamination is a problem that extends even to the wealthiest societies. In the United States, for example, about a quarter of private gardens may be contaminated. Lead has also been found in imported foods, such as curry and cinnamon, and in traditional items such as imported toys and cosmetics. In November 2023, a new food scandal in the United States involved the presence of lead in imported applesauce. Lead is also present in some products such as chocolate and seaweed, with contamination levels exceeding allowable limits.