A new study in the journal Lancet Planetary Health estimates that 5.455 million adults worldwide died in 2019 from cardiovascular disease (CVD) attributable to lead exposure.
The study also provides the first monetary estimates of the global cost of lead-attributable deaths, putting the combined toll of cognitive damage and CVD mortality at $6 trillion for 2019 alone.
Lead exposure is not only associated with gasoline and paint, but also with lesser-known sources like cookware, water supply lines, and electronic waste.