Mitigating Lead Exposure in the Philippines: Integrating Lead Detection Into National and Local Health Systems
The Mitigating Lead Exposure in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) project seeks to reduce lead exposure in Asia, Africa, and Latin America from exposure sources such as metal and ceramic cookware, adulterated spices, environmentally unsound used lead-acid battery (ULAB) recycling, and cosmetics. The overarching objective is to assist governments and stakeholders in strengthening institutional capacities, programs, and policies to effectively assess, prioritize, and mitigate lead exposure. Project countries include Colombia, Egypt, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Peru, and the Philippines.
In the Philippines, the project is focused on reducing lead exposure through institutionalizing lead detection, referral, and management into the national and/or local health system.
Pure Earth Philippines has been working alongside the government to implement blood lead level surveys in the country since 2021, when Pure Earth worked with the government to include testing for lead in their National Nutrition Survey, which takes place every three years. Based on the results of the 2021 lead poisoning survey, which tested 3000 children and pregnant women across 25 areas of the Philippines, it is estimated that around one million children ages 6–9 years have elevated blood lead levels. In September 2024, in partnership with Pure Earth Philippines, Valenzuela City launched its first Blood Lead Level (BLL) screening program, focusing on children with disabilities. This was the first city-led BLL screening and first screening for a particular sector, children with disabilities, in the Philippines. We will build on this existing work to continue to expand lead monitoring and surveillance in the country.
Project Objective:
Kickstart lead monitoring and management within national and local health systems
Project Activities:
- Make blood lead level (BLL) testing a standard part of national food and nutrition surveys
- Set up routine screening for lead poisoning focusing on high-risk areas and vulnerable populations, like children with disabilities
- Create clear referral and treatment protocols for lead poisoning in specialized centers
- Build a national database to track sources of lead exposure