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The effects of iniquitous lead exposure on health

Nature Sustainability volume 3, pages 77–79 (2020)Cite this article

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Disadvantaged communities are vulnerable to the impacts of lead exposure risking further worsening of their living standards, an outcome likely to weaken global efforts towards the Sustainable Development Goals. We urge policy makers to adopt protection systems aimed at safeguarding the most threatened populations.

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Fig. 1: Distribution of 75 lead exposure incidents reported in the Chinese news media since 2000.
Fig. 2: Average lead concentrations of selected new decorative paints sold in various countries and regions.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by National Key Research and Development Program of China (grant no. 2018YFC1801300), the National Water Pollution Control and Treatment Science and Technology Major Project (no. 2018ZX07109-003), and the Ministry of Ecology and Environment’s National Soil Pollution Investigation Project.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China

    David O’Connor & Deyi Hou

  2. Korea Biochar Research Center & Division of Environmental Science and Ecological Engineering, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea

    Yong Sik Ok

  3. Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

    Bruce P. Lanphear

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  1. David O’Connor
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  2. Deyi Hou
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  4. Bruce P. Lanphear
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Correspondence to Deyi Hou.

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O’Connor, D., Hou, D., Ok, Y.S. et al. The effects of iniquitous lead exposure on health. Nat Sustain 3, 77–79 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41893-020-0475-z

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