WHO urges faster action on lead exposure, which it links to more than 3.5 million deaths a year
Oct. 15, 2026 — Countries must move faster to prevent lead exposure, which is estimated to cause more than 3.5 million deaths a year and affects hundreds of millions of children, the World Health Organization said, UN News reported. Fewer than half of countries have confirmed legally binding controls on lead paint, the agency said. Lead can come from paint, cookware, cosmetics, spices, informal recycling and industry, and there is no known safe level of exposure, the agency said. International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week runs Oct. 18-26.
The wall: Country-by-country figures were not included.
Tier: Reported (based on UN News' account of the World Health Organization)
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