A recent study has revealed an alarming presence of lead in the blood of children living in the capital.
The US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) considers blood lead levels above 35 µg/L (micrograms per litre) a cause of concern – especially in children.
However, among the assessed children, 98% were above this threshold. In addition, a median blood lead level (BLL) of 67 µg/L was discovered.
The findings were presented on Wednesday during a discussion titled "Fighting Lead Poisoning in Bangladesh – Progress Made, Challenges Ahead" hosted by icddr,b to highlight the widespread and preventable burden of lead exposure in Bangladesh and explore opportunities for urgent intervention, read a press release.
Lead - a toxic heavy metal - has been silently harming the health of millions, especially young children and pregnant women.
According to UNICEF, Bangladesh ranks 4th most lead-impacted country in the world, with an estimated 36 million children suffering from elevated blood lead levels.
Research findings presented during the event highlighted the severity of the crisis, revealing that between 2009 to 2012, 87 per cent of children under the age of two living in Dhaka's slums had blood lead levels exceeding 50 μg/L, a level strongly linked to stunted growth, and long-term developmental harm.
Steve Luby, professor of Medicine, Stanford University and a former director at icddr,b highlighted how lead exposure severely impairs brain development, causing IQ loss and cognitive deficits that can permanently affect future generations.
He said, "Lead enters the body in multiple ways, through the air we breathe, the food we eat, contact with contaminated soil or dust, and even during pregnancy through the placenta. These exposure pathways make it nearly impossible to avoid unless we address the root causes in our environment, especially those we have the ability to manage and control."
One of the most impactful interventions in reducing lead exposure in Bangladesh has been the crackdown on turmeric adulteration with lead chromate – a toxic substance used to enhance the spice's colour. Research conducted by Stanford University, and icddr,b identified adulterated turmeric as a major source of lead exposure, particularly among pregnant women.
Jesmin Sultana, assistant scientist at icddr,b, shared the preliminary findings of a recent study (between 2022–2024) in Dhaka involving 500 children aged 2-4. "Children living within 1 km of the identified lead-related industrial sites had 43 per cent higher blood lead levels than those further than 5 km away. Other significant sources included indoor smoking, contaminated household dust, lead-based cosmetics, and cookware," she said.
The event opened with a welcome address and an overview of icddr,b's lead prevention initiatives by Health Systems and Population Studies Division (HSPSD) Senior Director Sarah Salway. She emphasised that lead exposure remains a serious yet often overlooked public health threat in Bangladesh, especially for children living near polluting industries.
Mahbubur Rahman, project coordinator at icddr,b, followed with a presentation summarising findings from over a decade of research on lead exposure.
In his closing remarks, Tahmeed Ahmed, executive director of icddr,b, emphasised the stakes. He said, "Lead poisoning silently steals our children's potential, damaging their brain development and nutritional status, with consequences that will hold back Bangladesh's future. We must act decisively to eliminate these sources of exposure so that every child can grow up healthy, smart, and ready to contribute to our nation."
The briefing called on authorities to urgently address these industrial sites, whose relocation or remediation could dramatically reduce exposure in affected communities.
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