The 4th Potters’ Gathering highlighted the importance of adopting safe and lead-free practices in pottery production, thereby contributing to the health and well-being of the community.
It is important to preserve the rich cultural tradition of pottery in Mexico, recognizing its historical and artistic value, as well as its significance for the economic dynamism and social development of the pottery communities in Mexico.
On March 16 and 17, 2024, the Centro de Desarrollo Comunitario in Tlayacapan, Morelos, hosted the 4th Lead-Free Pottery Meeting, held in commemoration of International Potter’s Day. Organized by Pure Earth México, with support from the Tlayacapan City Council and Clarios, the event aimed to promote safe pottery practices and preserve Mexico’s rich cultural pottery tradition.
The meeting brought together pottery artisans from various communities in Morelos, Puebla, Tlaxcala, and Tabasco, who shared their advancements in lead-free pottery production. Additionally, the Center for Specialized Resources for Potters (CREA), a digital platform developed by Pure Earth México, was introduced and made available to artisans. CREA provides training and resources on lead-free craft production, design innovation, marketing, and finance, among other areas (https://barroaprobado.org/crea/).
The event also served as a valuable opportunity to showcase safe lead-free pottery alternatives to the general community, promoting health and well-being for those who use these products in their daily lives.
Various workshops and working groups were held during the event, covering topics such as molds, glazes, jewelry, and pottery firing. Additionally, the documentary “Arte-sano” was screened, offering an in-depth look at the lives and work of Mexican potters, highlighting their art and contribution to culture.
Andrew McCartor, Executive Director of Pure Earth, emphasized the global significance of the event.
In a press conference during the meeting, Agustín Gama, Director of Pure Earth México, highlighted the urgency of addressing the lead problem, which affects millions of children in Mexico. He stressed the importance of initiatives like this one in promoting safe pottery practices.
The organization leader noted that:
- Lead has been classified by the World Health Organization as one of the 10 most concerning toxic metals for global public health. Various international organizations, including UNICEF and USAID, have prioritized this issue in recent years, particularly at the 2024 Davos Forum, where Samantha Power, Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), made a significant call for increased international attention to this latent threat.
- In Mexico, 3.3 million children under 15 suffer from lead poisoning, putting them at risk for adverse health and developmental effects, including long-term impacts on future opportunities.
- Lead exposure more severely affects those in poverty due to greater exposure to environmental risks and nutritional deficiencies that exacerbate toxic effects.
- The prevalence of lead poisoning varies among states: while Sinaloa, Tabasco, and Yucatán have estimated prevalences of less than 5%, Puebla, San Luis Potosí, Morelos, and Tlaxcala have prevalences of 46.6%, 37.4%, and 35.6%, respectively.
- Significant diseases related to lead exposure include ischemic disease, kidney disease, cerebrovascular disease, hypertensive heart disease, and idiopathic intellectual disability.
- In 2021, there were 20,983 deaths attributed to lead exposure in Mexico.
- Lead is also highly toxic to the national economy. Recent studies show that the economic impact of lost productivity due to lead exposure represents 1.5% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product.
- Analyzing four diseases in the adult Mexican population (chronic kidney disease, hypertension, ischemic heart disease, and cerebrovascular disease) estimated a direct cost related to lead exposure equivalent to 13.6% of total health spending in Mexico. Reducing exposure to this metal would result in significant savings for the Mexican healthcare system.
Pablo César Betancourt, Coordinator and Director of Tourism for Tlayacapan, highlighted the commitment of the Tlayacapan City Council 2022-2024, under the leadership of Ing. Eduardo Campos Allende, to the artisanal sector. He emphasized public policies developed to support lead-free artisans, including “Los viajes de barro” and “los viajes de plumilla,” which ensure artisans have a steady supply of raw materials. The council has also set up an expo sale at the tourism office for lead-free pottery artisans, who have received support up to $350,000 pesos from this project.
Furthermore, through the artisanal development office, artisans have been invited to learn lead-free glaze techniques and join this significant project in collaboration with Pure Earth México.
The main conclusions from the meeting underscore the urgency of implementing actions to prevent and control toxic lead exposure, achieving the common goal of all participating entities: TO SAVE LIVES.
The event, attended by over 200 people over two days, concluded with a cultural musical performance that invited reflection on life, the earth, roots, and our cultural richness and identity.
