Lead exposure is an important but often overlooked public health concern in India, which impacts nearly every second child today. Exposure can affect cognitive development and long-term health, with implications for individual well-being and broader social and economic outcomes. Greater public and policy attention to lead exposure prevention can help address these risks and strengthen India’s public health response.
This report highlights the value of a coordinated national response to lead exposure, drawing on evidence of its sources, distribution and existing institutional mechanisms. It examines the pathways of lead exposure across the ten most affected states, explores the factors that place certain communities at greater risk, and reviews the institutional framework guiding India’s response.
