Getting the Lead Out
Lead contamination in urban water systems remains an under-recognized public health risk in Lahore. “Getting the Lead Out” is an ongoing ARC research initiative focused on understanding the extent and impact of lead contamination in Lahore’s urban environment, particularly in low-income and industrial areas.
This project combines field-based water testing with community-level health data to assess both environmental exposure and its implications. Early findings from Shadipura, an industrial locality with a high concentration of iron foundries, have revealed significantly elevated lead levels in residential water sources, reaching up to 30 times above permissible limits.
These environmental conditions are closely linked with observed health outcomes. Among children under the age of 10, high rates of anemia have been recorded, alongside elevated blood lead levels averaging 16 micrograms/dL. Reports from women in the area also indicate serious reproductive health concerns, including a high incidence of stillbirths.
Building on these findings, ARC is working in collaboration with the Punjab Environment Protection Department, as well as international partners such as UN-Habitat and WWF’s Freshwater Program. Current efforts are focused on identifying contamination sources and supporting the installation of water filtration systems, while continuing to generate evidence that can inform longer-term interventions.