The International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week of Action will this year take place on 23-29 October, with a focus on preventing lead in paint.

Despite being easily preventable, lead exposure was estimated to account for 853 000 deaths in 2013 and poisoning from the metal can have lifelong health impacts on children - including reduced IQ, learning disabilities, hypertension and seizures.

Economic losses due to lead exposure meanwhile affect lower and middle income countries disproportionately - amounting to $699.9 billion in Asia, compared to $55 billion in Europe.

The prevention week will therefore see actions take place worldwide to raise awareness on the topic, highlight existing efforts to prevent childhood lead poisoning and seek to stimulate new ones.

Earlier this year, UN Environment organized regional workshop for Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia helping countries to stamp out lead in paint. Globally, 65 governments report to not have legally-binding laws on the topic, while information is lacking for a further 71 states.

For more information on the week and in order to access campaign materials in all UN languages for your own event, please click here. For further details please contact noleadinpaint@unep.org.