900K – 1.6m
Estimated deaths, annually
[pending James comment]
~50%
Estimated fraction of children in low- and middle-income countries with blood lead levels over WHO’s recommended threshold for action
Only $11m
In philanthropic funds spent to address lead exposure each year, prior to the creation of the Lead Exposure Action Fund
We make transformative grants to speed up the measurement, mitigation, and mainstream awareness of lead exposure. Our grantees are tackling urgent and addressable sources of exposure to protect tens of millions of people.
Lead exposure remains a critical yet overlooked health crisis. Exposure has severe impacts on cognitive and physical health, and contributes to an estimated 0.9 to 1.6 million deaths each year.
Widespread
Lead exposure affects over half of children in low- and middle-income countries, threatening their health and their futures.
NEGLECTED
Despite its severe impacts, lead exposure receives very little philanthropic funding compared to other major health challenges.
Tractable
History shows that lead exposure is a solvable problem, with significant reductions achieved through targeted interventions in countries like the USA, Bangladesh, and Malawi.
We created the Lead Exposure Action Fund to dramatically reduce lead exposure globally. With up to $150M in collaborative donor funds, we aim to make significant strides in measuring, mitigating, and drawing attention to the problem of lead contamination.
Measurement
We know how to get rid of lead contamination — but first, we need to find it. Our funding will support efforts to define the extent and sources of lead exposure in our focus countries.
Mitigation
In partnership with national governments, we’re funding efforts to address the most important sources of lead exposure, and to develop strategies for mitigating exposure from sources that aren’t as well-understood.
Mainstreaming
To eliminate lead exposure, we need to inspire action on a global scale. Our grantees aren’t just taking on the problem directly: they’re also pushing to make lead exposure a bigger part of the global health agenda, and writing playbooks that governments can use.
