Element of mystery: Lead poisoning is a huge public health concern for India; here’s why

Lack of screening systems; inability to determine source of exposure and lax implementation of safety norms compound the problem

A third of world’s children are poisoned by lead, says UNICEF report

India accounts for 275,561,163 of these children; lead levels in blood of Indian children show they can lose four intelligence quotient points …

India bears world’s highest health, economic burden due to lead poisoning: Centre

Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh have highest average blood lead levels, a CSIR and Niti Aayog …

Only 38% UN members have laws for minimum lead concentration in paints

This is worrying as lead contamination can have adverse health impacts on humans

Kabwe lead poisoning: Fresh evidence filed against mining company on behalf of over 100,000 victims

Two law firms are pursuing a class action lawsuit against mining giant Anglo American South Africa

Lead exposure led to 30% global cardiovascular deaths in 2019

5.5 million died due to cardiovascular diseases caused by lead exposure in 2019; 95% impact in LMICs

Deaths by exposure to hazardous chemicals increased 29% between 2016 and 2019: WHO

While most of these deaths are preventable, countries still don’t have enough legal control on the use of hazardous compounds such as lead

India is ripe for the sodium-ion battery revolution; here is why

The diversification of battery technology is necessary for the rapidly growing Indian energy storage market; SIBs can lead to this diversification

Eluru mystery disease: What needs to be done

Lead contamination in water samples, nickel poisoning in milk and pesticides in vegetables are being investigated

Electric vehicle battery recycling in India: An opportunity for change

India does not have adequate legislations that can prevent illegal dumping of spent lithium batteries

World freed from toxic leaded petrol: A global win

While global eradication of toxic lead in petrol needs to be celebrated, this also reminds us how tough it is to undo wrong if the evidence of …

South Africa bans dumping of liquid waste in landfills

It will protect groundwater reserves from toxic leachate, help hazardous wastes to be used as alternative for fossil fuels and boost the country&…

As told to Parliament (March 24, 2023): India has eliminated leprosy, as per WHO criterion

All that was discussed in the House through the day  

New Battery Waste Management Rules make producers accountable for recycling

But they need to be more holistic in design to enable sustainability standards 

Hirakud, 7 other Odisha wetlands show high levels of toxic heavy metals

High carcinogenic risk at Hirakud for adults and children; Heavy metals can enter crops through soil, get consumed by humans, warns study  

From discovering insulin to unearthing a double agent, our pick of Insights long reads in 2022

44 long-form articles that put the spotlight on groundbreaking new research and compelling human interest stories from around the world

India had world's highest pollution-related deaths in 2019: Report

Deaths due to other forms of pollutions also highest in India