Lead exposure highest among children from wealthiest families in Dhaka: Survey

Children from wealthy families in Bangladesh, particularly in Dhaka, are significantly more likely to have elevated blood lead levels than those from low-income households, according to an analysis of a national survey of children under five.

The findings come from an analysis of preliminary data from the Bangladesh Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) 2025, jointly conducted by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) and UNICEF. The data show that children from the wealthiest households have the highest prevalence of elevated blood lead levels.

According to the report, 30.2% of children from the poorest 20% of households had elevated blood lead levels, compared with 51.9% of children from the wealthiest 20%.

Data from the report’s chapter on “Heavy Metal Exposure and Anaemia” show substantial differences in children’s exposure to lead according to household economic status.

The survey found that 38.5% of children aged 12 to 59 months nationwide had blood lead concentrations of at least five micrograms per decilitre. This means nearly 39 out of every 100 children in this age group had blood lead levels at or above the threshold used in the study.

However, the prevalence varied considerably by household wealth. Children were divided into five groups according to household assets. Among those in the poorest 20% of households, 30.2% had elevated blood lead levels. The proportion rose to 51.9% among children in the wealthiest 20%.

The difference between the two groups was 21.7 percentage points, indicating a substantially higher prevalence of elevated blood lead levels among children from the wealthiest households.

Researchers found that the prevalence generally increased with household wealth. The association remained even after accounting for household assets, mothers’ education, housing conditions and other characteristics.

Syed Tousiq Hossain, a researcher, offered several possible explanations for the higher prevalence among children from affluent families. He said they might consume more packaged food and live in homes containing more furniture, painted walls and household utensils, some of which could contain lead. Contact with these products could be potential routes of exposure, he said.

However, the study did not examine these sources separately. It therefore cannot establish that packaged food, furniture or wall paint directly accounts for the higher blood lead levels among children from wealthy households.

Paediatrician Professor Mohammad Shahidullah also believes children from affluent families may have greater opportunities for exposure to lead.

He noted that these children may have more imported toys and decorative items at home. Lead could also be present in poultry feed, he said, adding that children from relatively well-off families often eat more chicken. Exposure through food could therefore be another possible route for lead to enter their bodies.

The survey also found substantial regional differences in the prevalence of elevated blood lead levels among children.

According to the preliminary findings of last year’s MICS, Dhaka recorded the highest rate, with 65.2% of children aged 12 to 59 months having elevated blood lead levels. The rate was 46.7% in Sylhet and 42.1% in Chattogram.

By contrast, the prevalence was 29% in Barishal, 30.6% in Mymensingh, 17.8% in Khulna, 15.9% in Rajshahi and 19.6% in Rangpur.

Elevated blood lead levels in children are a serious concern because lead can damage the developing brain and nervous system. Exposure can affect intellectual ability, attention, learning and behaviour. Such damage does not always produce immediate symptoms, and a child may appear healthy even while their development is being impaired.

Leading paediatricians in Bangladesh have recently reported an increase in the number of children experiencing neurodevelopmental disorders.