CGD Lead Poisoning Bi-weekly Update, September 7

New Publications and Resources

• How Bangladesh Built a National Response to Address Lead Poisoning. Lara Crampe. Pure Earth. The case study traces the lead up to to an approved 2026–35 plan targeting a 50 percent reduction in children’s blood lead levels by 2030 and 95 percent by 2035. See coverage from The Business Standard.

• Easy AALM and Estimating Lead Burden for Various Sources. Global Toxics Research Initiative (GRIT). GRIT is a new organisation developing practical tools and research on toxic exposures, particularly in LMICs. This resource simplifies use of the EPA All Ages Lead Model and helps estimate the burden attributable to particular sources.

• Lead leaching from traditional Mexican ceramics during cooking and implications for population health risk. Cantoral et al. Science of the Total Environment. Rice cooked for 30 minutes in lead-glazed pottery contained 1.27 ppm lead, above Mexico’s 0.5 ppm food limit; modelling estimated consumption could raise blood lead levels eleven-fold compared with rice from lead-free glazed ceramics.

• The CDC Foundation is developing a Blood Lead Testing Toolkit to provide practical guidance and resources for laboratories seeking to establish, strengthen, or expand blood lead testing capacity. We are currently looking for end user reviewers with relevant laboratory or blood lead testing experience to help ensure the toolkit is practical and applicable across different settings. If you are interested in participating, please sign up before October 31, 2026 using the link.

• Tool 11: Strategies to Encourage the Environmentally Sound Recycling of Used Lead-Acid Batteries. Partnership for a Lead-Free Future. See the launch webinar recording and slides for the latest PLF toolkit.

• Moss biomonitoring and isotopic signatures reveal aviation fuel as local lead source near Oregon airports. Aderinboye, Shiel, Stalford, Murphy, and Atkinson. Communications Sustainability. By combining moss biomonitoring with lead isotope fingerprinting, this study confirms that leaded aviation fuel from general aviation aircraft is a dominant active source of lead contamination near regional airports, elevating local environmental lead burdens up to 50-fold. For detailed background context, downloadable resources, and an interactive spatial map of US airport lead emissions, visit their public research website.

Upcoming Events

• A World Without Lead Exposure with Mary Jean Brown. Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. An online seminar on 9 September, 1:00–2:00 p.m. ET, will discuss how to build on the World Bank’s lead report. Zoom link here.

• Lead in the Environment: Mineralogy, Geochemistry, Community Engagement, and Remediation. USGS. A short course on lead geochemistry, exposure sources, health impacts, and remediation will be held Oct. 7–9 at the Colorado School of Mines, with a virtual option. Organisers: Sarah Hayes ([email protected]) and Charlie Alpers ([email protected]).

• Environmental Geochemistry and Health at GSA Connects 2026. Geological Society of America. Lead-focused poster and oral sessions (AM and PM) on legacy contamination and its societal impacts will be held Oct. 11–12 in Denver. Early registration closes Sept. 6. Organisers: Sarah Hayes ([email protected]), Jean Morrison, Ann Ojeda, and Peter Knappett.