Every year in the third decade of October, starting from the last Sunday of the full week, the International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week starts. Lead forms toxic compounds, the widespread use of the substance leads to environmental pollution and the appearance of diseases in many people. It is known that approximately 40% of the lead found in the human body enters with food, a little less than 30% – with dust, 15% – with water, and 5-10% – with air. The metal has a bad effect on the nervous and cardiovascular systems, stomach and intestines. Lead is especially dangerous for children, because it can cause intellectual impairment.

• According to WHO statistics, lead is one of the most dangerous and widespread environmental pollutants. This metal is widely used in various industries and everyday life, is produced in large volumes, penetrates and spreads in the environment over long distances. The production of lead all over the world is only growing and, according to the latest data, it amounts to 3 million tons of raw material per year.

Lead poisoning prevention week is an opportunity to once again remind people about the danger of this chemical element and draw the attention of the authorities in each country to reducing the volume of lead production, its distribution and use.