GS Paper 3: Environment
Context: A report titled “Schools in the Shadow of Toxic Sites: Pollution Proximity in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs)” by the Centre for Global Development (CGD), London, examines the proximity of schools to hazardous pollution sources across 17 LMICs, including India.
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About the Study
- Scope of the Study: Analysed 2.6 million schools and 11,301 documented toxic sites across 17 Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs), including India, Mexico, Ghana, Kenya, Armenia, and 12 other countries.
- Examined 2,840 schools in detail for pollution proximity.
- Found that 9.7% (about 10%) of schools lie within 5 km of a documented toxic site.
- Toxic sites were contaminated with: Lead, Mercury, Cadmium, Arsenic, Pesticides
Key Findings of the Report
- Location of Schools: 9.7% (nearly 10%) of schools are located within 5 km of a documented toxic site.
- Capital Cities Most Affected: New Delhi recorded the highest pollution exposure among the world’s capital cities, with 91.2% of private schools located within 5 km of sites contaminated with lead, mercury, cadmium, arsenic, and/or pesticides.
- It was followed by Manila (86%), Nairobi (71%), Accra (67%), and Jakarta (51%).
- Major Pollutants Identified: Lead, mercury, cadmium, arsenic, and pesticides.
- Major Source of Exposure: Informal lead-acid battery recycling units were identified as a major source of toxic contamination.
- Lead-acid batteries account for 86% of global lead consumption, and although India has more than 350 authorised recycling units, nearly 90% of used lead-acid batteries are recycled through the informal sector, releasing lead into the air, soil, water, and food chain.
- Pattern of Pollution Exposure: In high-income countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom, poorer and marginalised communities are generally more exposed to pollution than wealthier neighbourhoods.
- Urban Schools More Vulnerable: Schools in urban areas are 4 to 28 times more likely than those in rural areas to be located near toxic sites because hazardous recycling and industrial activities tend to cluster in densely populated cities where regulation is weak.
- Children at Greatest Risk: Nearly one billion children globally are estimated to have some degree of lead exposure, with a significant share linked to polluted sites, particularly those involved in informal lead-acid battery recycling.
- Best Practices: The report highlights Mexico City as evidence that toxic-site clustering near schools is not inevitable.
- The city has minimal toxic-site contamination near schools, despite its large size and high population density.
- Reasons for Success: Effective regulation of industrial manufacturing zones, Spatial separation (zoning) of hazardous industries from residential and educational areas.
About Lead
- Lead (Pb) is a heavy, soft, bluish-grey metallic element with atomic number 82.
- It is one of the densest and most corrosion-resistant common metals.
- Occurrence: Found mainly as galena (PbS), the principal ore of lead.
- Key Properties: Soft, malleable, and dense metal.
- Has a low melting point (327.5°C).
- Poor conductor of electricity.
- High density and malleability.
- Resistant to corrosion due to the formation of a protective oxide layer.
- Toxicity: It is a highly toxic heavy metal that can accumulate in the body and harm the brain, nervous system, kidneys, and blood, particularly in children.
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Health Impacts of Lead Exposure
- Neurotoxicity: Damages the developing brain and nervous system, particularly in children.
- Cognitive Impairment: Causes reduced IQ, learning disabilities, poor academic performance, and behavioural disorders.
- Growth and Organ Damage: Can result in anaemia, stunted growth, hearing impairment, and kidney damage.
- Severe Health Effects: High levels of exposure may cause seizures, coma, and death.
29 Jul 2026
