Project Unleaded Research Themes and Projects
1) Partner locally to determine the most critical sources of lead exposure globally
Currently, modeled projections estimate the burden of lead poisoning globally, but spotty availability of on-the-ground data makes it difficult to identify which lead sources matter most and where. The lack of clarity on the major sources of lead poisoning prevents stakeholders from strategically focusing resources on prevention. In this context, the most pressing question is “where is the lead that is getting into people’s bodies coming from?” Importantly, our experience from Bangladesh also suggests that local data about the burden of lead poisoning and its priority sources are a much more effective driver of interventions for governmental stakeholders and decision makers, than global projections or estimates.
Approach and Geographic Scope:
We conduct interdisciplinary research engaging environmental science, epidemiology, anthropology, geography, spatial statistics and chemical forensics to assess the burden of lead poisoning and patterns of dominant lead sources in populations.
We are actively conducting this research in Bangladesh with planned expansions to Pakistan and another country (TBD, likely in Africa).
In partnership with UNICEF in Bangladesh we are working to codify this source attribution toolset and make it more available globally.
2) Advance a global strategy to sustainably eliminate spices as a source of lead exposure
Spices have been identified as a source of lead exposure in several countries and can be separately targeted for intervention following a similar approach to the success in Bangladesh.
Approach and Geographic Scope:
Project Unleaded is collaborating with local and global partners to assess the problem of lead-tainted spices and advance successful interventions to sustainably eliminate lead chromate adulteration. The issue has been resolved in Bangladesh and the Republic of Georgia, and we are actively working toward this in India and Pakistan. Our ongoing efforts include assessing the problem in other spice-rich countries, and to make tools available to others globally who can assess their situation and take steps to eliminate adulteration, including detection and research tools.
3) Better characterize and address pollution from the lead acid battery industry
The majority of lead’s use globally is in lead acid batteries. Cases of acute lead poisoning among those living near or working in the battery industry are well-documented. However, it is less well-known how much the battery industry contributes to elevated lead at a population level, and how far the pollution travels. We anticipate that strategic interventions to curb lead exposure will become an important priority.
Our team of researchers from Stanford and icddr,b conducted a source attribution study between 2022-2024 in Dhaka, Bangladesh to assess the dominant sources of child lead poisoning and their prevalence. We found that battery making and recycling industries were the largest contributor to child blood lead levels amongst 2-4 year-old children in Dhaka, with the most likely lead exposure pathway being inhalation of lead particulates in the air. We estimate that 5.5 million children and adults are acutely affected by lead exposure from lead-producing industries in Dhaka alone.
Approach and Geographic Scope:
Building off our earlier work in Bangladesh, we are currently planning to characterize exposure to air lead pollution from battery manufacturing and recycling industries, and to investigate incentives perpetuating lead exposure from the battery industry and advance interventions to address exposure.
