Childhood Lead Poisoning: Information for Advocacy and Action

Lead poses an environmental and child health hazard of global proportions. It is a problem that demands urgent action. This booklet explains how children are affected by lead poisoning, and shows various ways to combat this scourge. Our goal is to reduce the adverse health and environmental impacts of lead, particularly on children. This material, although not exhaustive, is based on the most recent scientific knowledge. It is intended to be a tool for advocacy and action in the hands of policy-makers, communities and everybody caring for children.Childhood Lead Poisoning is the first in a UNEP-UNICEF information series dealing with environmental pollutants and their impacts on children. It is part of a wider effort to raise awareness of the linkages between environmental factors and the well-being of children. Working together, UNEP and UNICEF are helping to mobilize an active response to these global hazards.