The third International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week (ILPPW) took place on 25-31 October 2015.

Events took place in 87 cities in 39 countries - ranging from art competitions, statements of support and public demonstrations, to policy debates, workshops and scientific conferences. These events were organized by non-governmental organizations, academic institutions, government ministries and paint manufacturers. Events took place in schools, universities, shopping centres, community centres and on the street. Social media were widely used to spread the message.

This week of action is an initiative of the Global Alliance to Eliminate Lead Paint and events were supported by partners in the Alliance including the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), IPEN, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Health Organization (WHO). Funding support for the global campaign from the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety, is gratefully acknowledged.

WHO/FWC/PHE/ILPPW 2015

Lead exposure is harmful for health • It is a cumulative toxicant that

affects multiple body systems. • There is no known level of lead

exposure that is considered to be safe to humans.

• Lead damages the developing nervous system in young children and contributes to approximately 600 000 new cases of children with intellectual disabilities every year.

• Globally, lead exposure accounts for approximately 143 000 deaths per year with the highest burden in developing regions.

• Lead poisoning is entirely preventable.

Lead paint, a major source of lead exposure, is still widely available in many countries • Lead may be added to paint as

a pigment or to aid rapid drying.

• Some paint manufacturers do not provide warnings about lead content or lead hazards on paint-can labels or in other information for consumers.

• Good quality, cost-effective alternatives to lead paint are widely available.

• Many countries still have no legally binding restrictions on lead paint.

• More action is needed to phase out lead paint.

What is the problem with lead?

The International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week (ILPPW) aims to raise awareness of the need for action to address the human health effects of exposure to lead, especially in relation to children. During the week, a range of activities take place around the world, organized by various groups including government departments, academia and civil society. A particular focus of the campaign week is to urge further action by governments, industry and consumers to eliminate lead paint, and to highlight the efforts of countries and partners to prevent childhood lead poisoning.

People can be exposed to lead in various ways • From occupational,

environmental and food sources and some traditional products.

• By inhaling lead fumes and particles generated from burning, breaking-up or scraping materials containing lead, e.g. during smelting, recycling lead and stripping lead paint.

• By ingesting lead-contaminated dust, water (from leaded pipes), food (from lead-glazed or lead-soldered containers), and lead-containing traditional medicines and cosmetics.

Why have an ILPPW?

Activity in Lead Week No information Not applicable

Three paint companies from the UK, USA and Mexico that are members of the International Paint and Printing Ink Council, Inc. (IPPIC) issued a statement of support for the prohibition of lead in paint (see picture below).

The Environment and Social Development Organization (ESDO) in Dhaka, Bangladesh, organized activities including a policy dialogue to promote national regulation and enhance capacity of paint producers. They also organized a demonstration to urge action (see picture above by ESDO). The School of Public Health in Mongolia organised a conference to develop a childhood lead poisoning prevention program.

Organizations and institutions in a number of countries carried out market surveys to find out the lead content of enamel paints on sale to consumers. These studies provide evidence as to whether paint manufacturers and importers have complied with existing regulations and provide a stimulus for policy makers to take action on lead paint.

In Côte d‘Ivoire, the organization Jeunes Volontaires Pour l‘Environnement, broadcast the results of a paint analysis study via radio and television.

The Environmental and Societal Development Foundation in Pakistan organized an awareness seminar with lectures and interactive sessions. The event attracted over 60 participants.

The National Center for Disease Control and Public Health of Georgia organized a workshop to promote multilateral discussions on prohibiting lead-containing paints and other actions to prevent exposure to lead.

The All-India Institute of Medical Sciences in Jodhpur, India, held the first International Conference on "Lead, Environment and Health" during the ILPPW. Experts from different fields discussed the lead situation and possible solutions.

In Jordan, the organization Land and Human to Advocate Progress published a brochure describing the results of a study on the lead content of paint sold at markets.

The National Public Health Centre in Hungary organized a workshop for public health professionals on the health effects of lead and potential mitigation measures for lead contamination from drinking water pipes. PAN-Ethiopia released the results of a new paint analysis study and called for voluntary action to eliminate lead from household decorative paints during a meeting with stakeholders including ministries of health, environment and education, WHO, UNEP and paint manufacturers.

The organization Sustainable Research and Action for Environmental Development (SRADev) in Nigeria conducted various events including advocacy meetings with government officials and “Schools For Lead Free Paint” campaign petitions.

Other activities included the organization of school events in Tunisia, community consultations in Saudi Arabia, and the publication of an article spreading the ILPPW message in a local newspaper in Viet Nam.

Status of the phase-out of lead paint in countries* : • 59 (30%) countries have legally binding restrictions on the

use of lead in paint; • 66 (34%) countries do not have legally binding restrictions; • 18 (9%) countries without legally binding restrictions are

now in the process of developing such measures; • 70 (36%) countries – information awaited.

* based on information received from governments by 31 August 2015

Calls for action!

Awareness-raising events

Organizations distributed flyers and educational materials, put up posters in public places, placed articles in newspapers, organized information booths, fairs, home lead inspections and blood sampling for lead. Campaign topics included lead exposure from waste sites, paint, lead water pipes and occupational exposure.

In Cameroon, the Centre de Recherche et d’Education pour le Développement (CREPD) prepared a press release and gave an interview to the Cameroon Tribune newspaper. The Director of CREPD participated in "Brain Box"- a national TV program for children. Some organizations translated campaign materials into the local language and distributed them, e.g. at schools (see picture above from Georgia). o

The Centre for Public Health and Environmental Development (CEPHED) in Nepal promoted the new law on lead in paint via social and mass media and printed materials. Image from a YouTube video by CEPHED. l

The Kenya Industrial Research and Development Institute (KIRDI) organized events with partners, school children, parents and the media. In collaboration with a local paint company and UNEP, KIRDI provided a professional demonstration of painting over deteriorating lead paint to minimize occupational and child exposure to lead (see picture above from UNEP). The paint company donated lead-free paint to decorate Our Lady of Mercy primary school. In Jamaica, the Caribbean Poison Information Network used social media and radio broadcasts to inform the general public, teachers and health professionals about the hazards of lead and the prevention of exposure to lead.

Representative from SRADev Nigeria introduces the “Schools for Lead Free Paint” Campaign. The National Association of Professional Environmentalists in Uganda conducted lectures in schools and distributed T-shirts and banners that promoted the prevention of lead poisoning.

An art and short film competition (see above) was organized by the LEAD group in Australia. All graphics have a lead safety message.

The Centro de Estudios y Control de Contaminantes in Honduras held a teaching session for students on the health and environmental impacts of lead exposure. Information booths were provided including one by a manufacturer of lead-free paint. k

The Healthy Homes and Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program in Louisiana, USA, provided free lead testing at clinics, surveyed physicians about their lead-testing practices, and trained over 1,000 people on lead poisoning prevention.

The EcoWaste Coalition in the Philippines organized over 500 students, parents and teachers of Masambong Elementary School for an interactive awareness-raising program that including a storytelling on lead poisoning (see picture below).

The Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program in Michigan, USA, warns about the potential dangers of face paint (above).

An analysis of social media activity in the period of 7 October to 6 November showed that the hashtag #LPPW2015 had 331 mentions, #leadfreekids had 282 mentions and, #STOPLEADPAINT had 72 mentions. EPAallnations was the most active social media author, followed by UNEPRussian. Analysis conducted with Brand24® tools

Analysis of social media

The Department of Health in Ohio, USA, featured a Facebook campaign that focused on home renovators, painters, and do-it-yourself type projects. Other topics discussed via social media included the health effects of lead poisoning, the importance of childhood lead screening and home inspections for older houses.

Social media including Twitter, Facebook and Instagram were actively used during ILPPW.

Facebook post by the Green & Healthy Homes Initiative in the USA (above). Eco Ethics Kenya initiated a Read-Lead social media campaign to sensitize the public on the effects of lead exosure and to appeal to market leaders in the paint industry to uphold best practices in lead-free production and supply chains. In Wales and the Midlands in the UK, social media campaigns raised awareness about lead in drinking water as many homes still have lead service pipes.

BaliFokus in Indonesia used Twitter to spread the message about avoiding lead paint in houses. They also conducted a lead poisoning awareness survey. An interactive “Twitter Town-hall” session was organized in the USA by the EPA, Department of Housing and Urban Development, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, where Twitter users from all over the world could ask questions to experts using the hashtag #LeadChat2015.

Epaallnations #lead is toxic. It harms our bodies and the environment. No level is safe. #stopleadpaint #lppw2015 #leadfreekids

Using social media

Twitter message from US EPA (above).

Facebook message on the risks of lead exposure posted by the National Environment Management Authority in Uganda (above).

Next steps – what can different stakeholders do to prevent lead poisoning?

© World Health Organization 2016- Requests for permission to reproduce or translate WHO publications –whether for sale or for non-commercial distribution– should be addressed to WHO Press through the WHO website (www.who.int/about/licensing/copyright_form/en/index.html). The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the World Health Organization concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. Dotted and dashed lines on maps represent approximate border lines for which there may not yet be full agreement.

Non-governmental organizations can: • Analyze lead content of paints

sold in national markets. • Engage with governments to

support the development and implementation of legal limits on lead in paint.

• Build public awareness of lead paint hazards.

The Global Alliance to Eliminate Lead Paint (Lead Paint Alliance) is a joint undertaking of UNEP and WHO. The overall goal of the Alliance is to prevent children’s exposure, and to minimize occupational exposures, to lead in paint. The broad objective of the Alliance is to promote the phase-out of the manufacture and sale of paints containing lead and eventually to eliminate the risks that such paints pose.

A group of partners in the Lead Paint Alliance

developed a Toolkit for Establishing

Laws to Control the Use of Lead in Paint

which is freely available at: ha

http://www.unep.org/chemicalsandwaste/noleadinpaint/toolkit

Industry can:

• Voluntarily stop the manufacture and sale of lead paint.

• Engage with governments to support the development and implementation of legal limits on lead in paint.

• Identify ways for regional paint associations and large multinational paint and pigment manufacturers to provide expertise and encouragement to other companies interested in stopping their use of lead additives.

• Participate in third-party certification of their paint products to help consumers recognize lead-safe paints.

Governments of countries without lead paint laws should:

• Establish and enforce stringent national legal limits.

• Partner with stakeholders in the health sector, industry, public interest organizations and academia.

• Utilize available resources, e.g. the Toolkit for Establishing Laws to Control the Use of Lead in Paint (see side panel).

• Participate in multi-country regional projects to share information and assistance.

8

Countries with existing lead paint laws: 0

• Should take all necessary measures to ensure full compliance.

• Can share experiences and successes with enacting and enforcing lead paint laws.

• Can encourage multi-country regional activities to support action by national governments interested in taking action on lead in paint.

For more information on International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, please visit:

www.who.int/ipcs/lead_campaign/en/ www.unep.org/noleadinpaint

All reasonable precautions have been taken by the World Health Organization to verify the information contained in this publication. However, the published material is being distributed without warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied. The responsibility for the interpretation and use of the material lies with the reader. In no event shall the World Health Organization be liable for damages arising from its use. The mark “CDC” is owned by the US Department of Health and Human Services and is used with permission. Use of this logo is not an endorsement by HHS or CDC of any particular product, service, or enterprise.

Document production and design: Bernice Schaddelee-Scholten