Working to Solve Pollution in the Philippines Since 2008
Pure Earth has been identifying and tackling toxic pollutants in the Philippines through assessments of contaminated sites; pilot remediations, multi-stakeholder coordination, education, and industrial process reviews. To date, over 150 toxic sites have been assessed, and more than 25% were lead-contaminated. In addition to these assessments, Pure Earth has worked on the ground in priority areas, such as areas where Used Lead Acid Battery (ULAB) recycling is prevalent — developing plans and implementing cleanup projects.
Progress in Blood Lead Level (BLL) Testing in the Philippines (2021–Present)
Since 2021, significant progress has been made in addressing childhood lead exposure in the Philippines through Blood Lead Level (BLL) testing initiatives. Key efforts include the integration of BLL testing into national and local health strategies, conducted by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI), Pure Earth (PE), and various partners.
First-Ever National Survey of Childhood Lead Poisoning in the Philippines (2021–2022)
The FNRI incorporated BLL testing into the Philippines’ Expanded National Nutrition Survey (ENNS) for the first time, collecting venous blood samples from 2,932 children aged 6–9 years across 25 survey areas. Analysis by the East Avenue Medical Center National Reference Laboratory (EAMC-NRL) revealed that 8.76% of children had BLLs exceeding 3.5 µg/dL, translating to an estimated 1.05 million children nationwide with elevated lead levels. Feedback and health consultations were provided to over 300 local government units (LGUs). This phase marked a critical step in assessing the national scope of lead exposure.
Policy and Strategic Action (2023–2024)
In 2023, the Inter-Agency Committee on Environmental Health (IACEH) prioritized lead exposure as part of the National Environmental Health Action Plan (NEHAP) 2023–2030. Key initiatives include assessing the viability of BLL screening (2023–2024), implementing proactive testing (2024–2025), and integrating lead management into universal health care frameworks. These actions aim to improve detection, treatment, and referral systems for chemical poisoning cases.
Expanded BLL Testing (2023–2024)
Under the 2023–2024 ENNS, FNRI gathered blood samples from all 117 survey areas to establish a national baseline for children aged 6–9 years. However, challenges such as insufficient funding and low sample volumes hindered progress. USAID committed $125,000 for testing, though higher costs are anticipated if more sensitive methods, like ICP-MS analysis, are employed.
Localized Efforts in Valenzuela City (2024)
Valenzuela City initiated a pilot program to institutionalize local lead monitoring, focusing on children with disabilities. Supported by City Resolution No. 3197, the program includes BLL screening using LeadCare analyzers, home-based exposure assessments, and the development of referral systems. Initial tests found three out of 29 children with elevated BLLs, demonstrating the need for expanded coverage. The initiative is also advocating for the inclusion of BLL testing in universal health care services for persons with disabilities.
Videos About Our Work in the Philippines
Lead poisoning from everyday products in the home
Philippines: HSBC and Pure Earth Rooting for Healthier Ecosystems
G Diaries Interview: Country Director Larah Ibañez Explores The Impact Of Our Work In Communities Across The Philippines
Meet Dexter, who now can play without fear of lead poisoning
Behind the nationwide effort to identify children poisoned by lead
What happens after children are tested for lead poisoning?
Pure Earth Philippines – Accomplishments from 2020 – 2023
Your continued support has helped us put in place a system that will help address and prevent childhood lead poisoning for generations to come. Here’s a brief timeline of what we have been able to achieve just within the last three years in the Philippines.
The Toxic Truth report released by Pure Earth and UNICEF in 2020 revealed that 1 in 3 children worldwide is lead poisoned.
To determine the number of Filipino children impacted, Pure Earth persuaded the government to include testing for lead in their National Nutrition Survey, which takes place every three years. This kick-started a national lead poisoning monitoring program, which will collect lead poisoning data every three years.
The first lead poisoning survey, which tested about 3000 children and pregnant women across 13 regions of the Philippines, confirmed that one million children ages 5-9 years have elevated blood lead levels.
Pure Earth connected families with lead poisoned children to doctors for health consultations.
To help pin-point the sources of lead exposure, Pure Earth sent investigators to 65 vendors in 7 markets across the Philippines to sample hundreds of consumer products for lead contamination. They found that 24% of aluminum pots, 13% of glazed ceramic food ware, and 16% of house paint were contaminated with high levels of lead.
Were these products responsible for poisoning children in their homes? To find out, Pure Earth investigators visited the homes of children identified with high blood lead levels to test products used in the home.
At every step of the way, work was done in partnership with local governments, with data openly shared.
As a result, our work is now attracting the attention of health officers from local government units interested in learning how they can do similar testing in their own localities.
For the first time, the government of the Philippines is including lead poisoning as a priority issue in their national environmental health action plan.
Pure Earth will continue expanding our work, and supporting local government.
