An investigation documenting the dangers of lead battery manufacturing and recycling operations in developing markets, showed that children who live near these facilities in developing countries had roughly 13 times more lead in their blood in comparison to American children. The study was published in the September issue of the Journal of Occupational and Environment Hygiene.

The investigators, using information from studies published between 1993 and 2010 on environmental and occupational exposures from lead battery manufacturing and recycling in developing countries, also discovered:

  • In developing countries, workers in this industry had almost three times higher blood lead levels compared to battery workers in the U.S.
  • Lead levels in the air inside the lead battery facilities in developing countries were seven times higher then levels the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration permits.

Perry Gottesfeld, executive director of Occupational Knowledge International (OK International) and author of the investigation, explained,

“Children and workers in developing countries face significant risks of lead poisoning, which can cause lifelong health problems.

Without major improvements, we expect that lead poisoning cases will continue to increase as the industry grows.”

The investigation’s release comes shortly after reports of a large number of mass lead poisoning cases around lead battery recycling and manufacturing plants in China, together with the August 2 notice that 583 of these plants in the country have been recently shut down.

Using roughly 80% of the global lead production, the battery industry is the largest consumer. In order to meet demands for batteries in cars, motorcycles, electric vehicles, solar power systems, cellular phones and for back-up power supplies, lead battery manufacturing is increasing rapidly. It is expected to nearly double in size in the next 5-10 years in several developing countries.

Gottesfeld said,

“At the exposure levels observed, developing countries are losing billions of dollars as a result of reduced school performance, loss of productivity and increased medical costs.

Given the lack of regulatory and enforcement capacity in most developing countries, third party certification programs may be the only viable option to improve conditions, protect human health and strengthen these nations’ economies.”

Even though the study discovered some modest improvement over the investigation period, these gains were not statistically large. The average exposures observed are considerably greater than the levels at which health effects have been identified in both adults and children.

In addition to being a significant contributor to occupational disease, lead poisoning is also one of the most serious environmental health threats to children. The World Health Organization estimates that 120 million people are over-exposed to lead (roughly three times the number infected by HIV/AIDS) and 99% of people most severely affected are in developing countries.

Countless adverse health effects caused by lead poisoning, include damage to the central nervous system, the kidneys, the cardiovascular system and the reproductive system. In children, blood lead concentration is linked with learning impairments, in addition with hyperactive and violent behavior.

Written by Grace Rattue