Study flags dangerous lead contamination across four states, including Delhi

Study finds widespread soil toxicity, exposing gaps in regulation, monitoring, and public health safeguards nationwide.

In Short

• Soil near battery recycling units shows dangerously high lead levels
• 52 percent of soil samples exceed hazardous lead concentration limits
• Children and pregnant women face highest health risks from lead exposure

Soil around battery recycling units across four states, including Delhi and nearby regions, shows dangerously high lead levels, raising serious concerns for public health and environmental safety.

A study by environmental research organisation Toxics Link found that 52 percent of soil samples recorded lead concentrations above 5,000 ppm in and around both authorised and unauthorised recycling units across Delhi-NCR, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh.

Lead is a cumulative toxicant with no safe level of exposure and remains one of the most severe environmental health threats globally. It contributes to an estimated 540,000 deaths and 13.9 million Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) lost each year.

A World Health Organisation (WHO) report notes that the majority of this burden falls on low- and middle-income countries.

Lead is also classified as a Group 2 carcinogen by the WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer, indicating limited evidence of cancer risk in humans.

PATHWAYS OF EXPOSURE

Lead enters the human body through inhalation, ingestion of contaminated food or dust, and skin contact. Once absorbed, it circulates through the bloodstream and accumulates in various organs, causing widespread damage.

Children and pregnant women face the highest risks. Even low exposure can impair brain development, leading to cognitive deficits, behavioural issues, attention disorders, and lifelong learning challenges.

High exposure levels can result in coma, seizures, or death. Survivors often experience permanent neurological damage.

Lead exposure also carries significant economic costs. A global study by New York University estimates annual losses of $977 billion in low- and middle-income countries due to reduced IQ and productivity among affected children.

In India, the estimated economic loss stands at $236 billion annually—around 5 percent of GDP—underscoring the scale of the crisis.

CONTAMINATION FINDINGS

The study, referencing the Environmental Protection (Management of Contaminated Sites) Rules, 2025, found that 52 percent of samples (12 out of 23) exceeded the 5,000 ppm threshold for classification as hazardous contaminated sites.

Additionally, 31 percent of samples breached permissible limits set for industrial areas under the same rules.

At several locations, waste from recycling operations was found dumped directly on bare ground, increasing the risk of soil and groundwater contamination.

Notably, average lead levels were higher at authorised recycling units compared to unauthorised ones, pointing to potential gaps in compliance and oversight.

The findings highlight weaknesses in managing environmental leakage of lead from recycling processes, according to Toxics Link.

URGENT INTERVENTIONS NEEDED

The report calls for immediate and coordinated action, including stricter controls on informal recycling and adoption of best available technologies and environmental practices across all facilities.

It also recommends enhanced monitoring of lead levels in soil, air, water, and household dust near recycling sites, alongside the creation of a national database of contaminated locations linked to remediation efforts led by the Central Pollution Control Board.

Regular health assessments, including blood lead level testing in affected populations, have also been strongly advised.

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