Experts Seek Protection of Children’s Brains from Lead and Other Toxins

Environmental health experts highlighted the need to protect children’s brain development from lead and other toxic chemicals that can irreparably harm their health and dim their hope for a bright future.

At a recent webinar organized by the EcoWaste Coalition with the International Pollutants Elimination Network (IPEN), speakers Dr. Bruce Lanphear and Dr. Sara Brosche pointed to the importance of concerted, decisive and urgent action to prevent  exposures to environmental contaminants linked with learning and developmental disabilities among children.    

The webinar, which attracted close to 100 Zoom attendees and 400 Facebook live streaming viewers from 15 countries, coincided with the observance of the International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, an annual occasion for raising awareness about the health effects of lead exposure and for drumming up action toward the phase-out of lead-containing paints. 

"Exceedingly low levels of exposure to toxic chemicals like lead and mercury can have a big impact on children's development.  Little things matter," said Lanphear who has for over 20 years studied the impact of such brain toxins and their implications for public health.  Lanphear, a clinician scientist and professor of health sciences, is President of the International Society for Children’s Health and the Environment (ISCHE).

"The chemical industry argues that the effect of toxins on children is subtle and of little consequence.  That's misleading,” he asserted, “as little shifts in children's IQ scores have a big impact on a number of children who are challenged or who are gifted."

Lanphear emphasized “no safe level” for many of the most widely disseminated and well studied toxic substances, including lead, mercury, organophosphate pesticides, brominated flame retardant chemicals and air pollutants, which can be hazardous even at very low levels.

“This contrasts with the way we regulate toxic chemicals today.  We assume for non-carcinogens that there are safe levels or thresholds.  But what if there isn't?" he stated.

Brosche, IPEN’s Science Adviser and Global Lead Paint Elimination Campaign Manager, drew attention to lead paint, which has been identified as one of the most widespread sources of childhood lead exposure.

“There is an urgent need to scale up efforts to ban the production, importation, distribution and sale of lead-added paints as the majority of countries still do not have strong and legally binding lead paint regulations,” she said.

“Lead paint harms children and is most likely available on the market if there is no enforced regulation,” she said, adding that lead paint data from almost 60 countries provide justification for regulations to be adopted and enforced.  “Governments do not need to wait."

Brosche commented that it’s possible for manufacturers of all sizes to phase out lead from their paint production as she pitched for a multi-stakeholder approach to eliminating lead paint.  “This approach increases the chance of success.”

She concluded her presentation by highlighting the crucial role of non-government organizations (NGOs) in the efforts to eliminate lead paint. 

“NGOs have the freedom to act and can interact informally with other stakeholders; They can help the government to prioritize action on lead paint, and they have the public interest at heart," she said.

The EcoWase Coalition, an IPEN participating organization, has built meaningful alliances with various stakeholders to promote compliance to the historic 2020 phase-out of lead-containing paints in the Philippines as per the DENR-promulgated Chemical Control Order for Lead and Lead Compounds.