Pakistan: Study finds 4 in 10 children in high-risk urban areas exposed to dangerous lead levels

Islamabad [Pakistan] May 2 : A new study has found troubling levels of lead exposure among young children in Pakistan, with four out of ten children aged 12-36 months in high-risk urban areas testing positive for lead in their blood, raising serious concerns about their physical and cognitive development, according to a report by The Express Tribune (TET).

The research, carried out jointly by the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination (M/o NHSR&C) and UNICEF, examined more than 2,100 children living in high-risk industrial areas across seven cities, including Haripur, Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta, and Rawalpindi.

It revealed major geographical differences, with Hattar in Haripur showing the highest prevalence, where 88% of children had elevated blood lead levels, compared to only 1% in Islamabad, as cited by the TET report.

The report warned that lead exposure can hinder growth, cause anaemia, weaken the immune system, and severely damage cognitive development by lowering IQ, shortening attention span, and affecting memory, which can increase the likelihood of learning difficulties and behavioural issues.

Muhammad Aslam Ghauri, federal secretary for health at the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, said protecting children from lead exposure was a national public health priority, according to TET.

He emphasised that the findings highlight the urgent need for coordinated action across health, environmental, and regulatory systems. He added that the government is committed to improving surveillance, strengthening enforcement of standards, and integrating prevention measures into child health programmes nationwide.

The study identified several possible sources of lead exposure, based on global evidence, including industrial emissions, informal battery recycling, lead-based paints, contaminated food and spices, and traditional cosmetics. It noted that risks continue due to shortcomings in regulatory enforcement, monitoring, and public awareness.

According to TET, global estimates indicate the problem could be much larger, with as many as eight in ten children in Pakistan potentially affected, placing the country among the highest rates worldwide.

"Children can absorb up to five times more lead than adults, making them especially vulnerable. Lead affects every system in the body, but its impact on developing brains can be devastating and lifelong. There is no safe level of exposure to lead for children, whose harmful effects are irreversible. UNICEF is committed to strengthening evidence, advancing environmental health, and driving multi-sectoral action to protect children from this toxic threat," UNICEF representative in Pakistan Pernille Ironside said, as quoted by the TET report.

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