Lead Poisoning and Pollution: Opportunities for Internationalized Solutions

• Author: K.W. James Rochow
• Pages: 425-437

Chapter 28

Lead Poisoning and Pollution: Opportunities

for Internationalized Solutions

K.W. James Rochow

This chapter reviews the status of lead poisoning and pollution1and

opportunities for expedited reduction and elimination of this long per-

sisting obstacle to sustainable development after the impetus provided

by the 2002 WorldSummit on Sustainable Development at Johannes-

burg (WSSD).2The imminent worldwide phaseout of leaded gaso-

line, propelled in part by a major partnership formed at the WSSD,

provides the momentum for an historic victory over lead poisoning

through the systematic control and elimination of its other sources

of exposure.

With the elimination of leaded gasoline, the most dispersive source

of lead, revised action plans for the prevention of lead poisoning must

take into account local and regional variations in priority sources,

which could range from industrial emissions, discharges, and waste to

community, household, and lifestyle sources such as lead-contami-

nated soil, lead-based paint, plumbing, housewares, cosmetics, medi-

cine, and children’stoys. Controlling the various remaining sources of

lead exposure through more localized source priorities will paradoxi-

cally require internationalized solutions. Beyond continuing to ad-

dress the international dimensions of the lead problem in classic defi-

nition—the literal crossing of political boundaries through polluting

atmospheric emissions, effluent discharges, and products in com-

merce—such internationalized solutions should also embody a

broader understanding of international links to local circumstances.

These local circumstances include the retention of unsafe cultural

practices (e.g., the use of cosmetics and home remedies containing

lead) in diasporic communities and the sharing of best practices for

prevention through “interlocal” electronic communications that over-

come obstacles of distance and jurisdiction.3

The United States is in a particularly strong position to help com-

plete the fight against lead poisoning because of the inherently inter-

national dimensions of the lead problem in the country itself, owing to

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