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Celebrating Lead Elimination Heroes for ILPPW 2026
A new study reveals that Pakistan has cut in half the share of lead paint on the market since LEEP began its work there. The results suggest that the market share of brands selling oil-based lead paint for home use has reduced from approximately 88% in 2021 to 41% in 2024.
Announcing LEEP’s Local Action Fund Grantees
Our Local Action Fund provides small grants to government and civil society organisations, enabling locally led action to reduce lead exposure and protect children’s health. To celebrate International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, we are pleased to announce the...
Announcing LEEP’s Opportunity Fund Grantees
As part of Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Lead Poisoning Prevention Initiative, LEEP’s Opportunity Fund advances strategic, short-term projects that further our communal understanding of lead poisoning prevention. We are excited to announce the first two rounds of grantees...
New Research Drives Regulatory Action in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
LEEP, in partnership with the DRC government, conducted the study in DRC’s most-populated cities, Kinshasa and Lubumbashi, and found 55% of samples tested contained hazardous levels of lead. As a result of these findings, the DRC took decisive regulatory action.
2025 in Review: Advancing Lead Elimination at Scale
2025 was a year of remarkable growth and foundational progress for LEEP. We launched 11 new paint programs, bringing our total presence to 40 countries across Africa, Asia, and Latin America—reaching areas representing 76% of births in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
Pakistan Follow-up Paint Study Results
A new study reveals that Pakistan has cut in half the share of lead paint on the market since LEEP began its work there. The results suggest that the market share of brands selling oil-based lead paint for home use has reduced from approximately 88% in 2021 to 41% in 2024.
2024 in Review
Introduction from LEEP’s Co-Executive Directors 2024 was an exciting year for LEEP, as well as the wider field of actors working on lead poisoning. We continued to scale our lead paint programs, supporting governments and industry to eliminate lead paint from...
Paint study and steps toward lead-free paint in Peru
Summary In October 2024, the General Directorate of Environmental Health and Food Safety (DIGESA), an agency of the Ministry of Health (MINSA), and LEEP conducted a paint study to assess the availability of lead paint on the market in Peru. The results showed that 16...
Paint study and regulation in Burundi
Summary LEEP and two government partners in Burundi conducted a study to determine the lead content of paints in Burundi. The results showed that 13 out of 47 (27%) samples of paints for home use contained hazardous levels of lead (greater than 90 ppm). LEEP, the...
Paint study and workshop in Niger
Summary The State of Niger, through the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Public Health, in partnership with LEEP, conducted a study in 2022 to determine the lead content in paints available on the Nigerien market. The results showed that 15 out of 49 (31%)...
Major steps forward on lead paint regulation in Côte d’Ivoire
Summary In September 2023, a paint study was jointly conducted in Côte d'Ivoire by LEEP and the African Center for Environmental Health (CASE), at the request of the Ministry of Health through the Directorate of Public Hygiene and Environmental Health (DHPSE). Results...
Lead paint regulation and standard in Nigeria
Summary In July 2023, LEEP awarded a grant to Sustainable Research and Action for Environmental Development (SRADev Nigeria) to support lead paint elimination in Nigeria through government advocacy and industry engagement. In October 2023, SRADev Nigeria held an...
Zimbabwe: government and paint manufacturers take steps towards lead-free
Summary In June 2023, the Environmental Management Agency of Zimbabwe (EMA) and LEEP jointly conducted a paint study to determine the lead content of paints available to purchase in Zimbabwe. Results showed that 35% of the samples, representing 34 brands, contained...
Update on lead paint in Ghana
Summary The Ghana Environmental Protection Agency, Ghana Standards Authority, Environmental Youth Action Network and LEEP conducted a study to determine the lead content of paints in Ghana. The results showed that six out of 59 (10%) samples of paints for home use...
How cost-effective are LEEP’s paint programs?
LEEP developed its first cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) in 2021, in which we estimated the expected cost per disability-adjusted life year (DALY)-equivalent averted of implementing our first paint program. As LEEP has expanded its programming over the past few...
Testing spices for lead content in Türkiye and Ethiopia
Summary: LEEP conducted studies to determine the lead content of spices in Türkiye and Ethiopia Spices are a commonly adulterated food product and studies have previously demonstrated the addition of lead chromate pigments in some spice supply chains Results from two...
2023 in Review
Introduction from LEEP’s Co-Executive Directors 2023 has been a year of progress, learning, and growth, all towards our founding goal of improving the health, wellbeing, and potential of children around the world. As we’ve expanded our paint programs, which aim...
New study and industry workshop in Senegal
The Senegalese Ministry of Health, through the Poison Control Centre (PCC), and LEEP recently conducted a study to determine the lead content of paints on the market in Senegal. Results showed that 10 out of 35 (29%) samples of paint for home use, obtained in Dakar,...
Malawi follow-up study results
Summary LEEP and the Malawi Bureau of Standards conducted a new study to assess recent changes in lead paint levels in Malawi. Taking into account estimated market share data, the results suggest that the market share of brands selling lead paint for home use has...
Lead paint workshop in Angola following new study results
Summary: Instituto Nacional de Gestão Ambiental (INGA), EcoAngola and LEEP recently conducted a study to determine the lead content of paints in Angola. Results showed that 18 out of 43 (42%) samples of solvent-based paint and 2 out of 7 (29%) samples of water-based...