CGD Lead Poisoning Update
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CGD Lead Poisoning Bi-weekly Update, August 7

CGD Lead Poisoning Bi-weekly Update, August 7

Theo Mitchell & Rachel Bonnifield
August 07, 2026

Dear Colleagues,

Sharing here CGD’s bi-weekly update on lead poisoning publications, events, job opportunities, and funding announcements.

We welcome submissions for future newsletters at this link. New subscribers can sign up at this link, and existing subscribers can remove themselves from future updates via the unsubscribe link at the bottom of this email. We will also invite the new subscribers to join our monthly check-in call.

With best wishes,

Rachel Bonnifield
Senior Fellow
Center for Global Development

New Publications and Resources

Quantifying the global burden of lead exposure from dietary lead intake. Chris Kinally, Howard Hu, and Richard Fuller. Preprint. Half of global lead exposure may be coming from food.
Strategies to Encourage the Environmentally Sound Recycling of Used Lead-Acid Batteries. Partnership for a Lead-Free Future. A new PLF Toolkit, designed to help policymakers develop strategies for safer ULAB recycling. See their launch webinar on 13 August 10:00-11:30 EST.
Big Lead is Still Downplaying the Harms. Lee Crawfurd, Theo Mitchell, and James Hu. CGD blog. We respond to an industry critique of our battery recycling paper, which estimates that used lead-acid battery recycling may account for around one-third of global lead exposure.
How to Spend Your AI Philanthropy on Education. Lee Crawfurd. CGD. As AI billionaires decide where to donate their money, Lee makes the case for funding lead NGOs (among other education NGOs).
Environmental and Household Sources Associated with Elevated Blood Lead Levels Among Mexican Women of Childbearing Age: A Community-Based Screening Study. Larissa Betanzos-Robledo et al. Toxics. In a community-based screening of 158 women aged 18-40 in Mexico City, 49 had blood lead levels ≥3.5 µg/dL; lead-glazed ceramics use was the strongest associated source.
Lead Poisoning: Ogun Govt Begins Remediation Exercise In Ogijo. Bidemi Bello. Channels Television. Ogun State has begun removing slag dumped around communities near ULAB, following testing at ULAB sites. Officials ask for automatic battery breakers and compliance with new slag-management standards.