Making the Invisible Visible: Saving Brains Via Lead-Free Districts in Bangladesh

Lead exposure is a major global public health problem, especially in low-income countries where nearly 40% of children suffer (1). As a potent neurotoxin, lead irreversibly damages the brain, permanently lowers IQ and reduces lifetime earnings (2). Our proposed district-wide prevention effort will examine and test ways to comprehensively reduce lead in Bangladesh from three major sources: batteries, paint, and adulterated turmeric. We will make the invisible problem of lead contamination visible by engaging stakeholders in a process of publicly identifying and eliminating lead hotspots. We will track our impact by measuring changes in lead concentrations in maternal and child blood, soil, paint, and turmeric. We will systematically assess factors that convince stakeholders to take action. By the end of two years, we will not only have reduced lead exposure in one district, benefiting nearly 5 million people, but our approach will serve as a model for other regions around the world.