Lead exposure remains a major, largely preventable public health risk. However, national capacities to identify major sources of exposure and pollution—such as the informal and illegal recycling of used lead-acid batteries (ULABs) and electronic waste (e-waste)—are often limited. Identifying highly exposed and affected populations is essential to understanding the true scale of the problem and driving targeted environmental and health policies that reduce toxic pollution at the source.

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Building on GAHP’s previous initiatives on ULABs management across the MERCOSUR region, this project strengthens Paraguay’s capacity to detect, map, report, and mitigate lead exposure, with a specific focus on vulnerable groups, such as pregnant women and early-life stages.

GAHP is facilitating this Multicentre Collaborative Pilot Project by bringing together the National Poison Centres of Paraguay and Uruguay. By combining portable blood lead level (BLL) testing with shared technical expertise, the two Poison Centres will conduct a joint exposure assessment in high-risk populations. This South-South cooperation leverages established regional expertise to expand diagnostic capacity, standardise methodologies, and generate robust, comparable evidence to guide environmental and health interventions.

Additionally, the project will update baseline data on lead and informal ULABs management flows in Paraguay and Uruguay, foster regional policy dialogue, and provide environmental and health authorities with evidence to design targeted interventions to reduce informal ULABs and e-waste management.

Expected Impact: