Lead exposure is one of the most urgent yet overlooked development challenges of our time. It affects millions of people worldwide — especially children — causing irreversible health damage and limiting the social and economic progress of communities. Various interventions are available to address lead pollution and while in some cases the relative costs outweigh the benefits, several interventions have the potential to benefit many children and adults while requiring relatively minor investments. In all cases, the benefits of reduced blood lead level (BBL), reduced cardiovascular mortality and increased lifetime earnings are worthwhile in diverse locations and at various scales.
