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Table 1 Estimates of economic costs associated with lead and other neurotoxicant exposure

From: Calculation of the disease burden associated with environmental chemical exposures: application of toxicological information in health economic estimation

Risk factor

Adverse consequences

Context

Economic cost ($billions)

% GDP

% of Global GDP

Lead exposure

Cognitive deficits

LMICs [53]

1040 [775.5–1237]

5.20 [3.9–6.2]

1.68 [1.25–1.99]

U.S. [57]

54.0 [47.5–64.3]

0.37 [0.33–0.44]

0.09 [0.08–0.1]

EU [82]

60.6 [53.7–72.2]

0.36 [0.32–0.43]

0.1 [0.09–0.12]

Total (sum)

1154 [876.7–1373.5]

2.47 [1.88–2.94]

1.83 [1.39–2.18]

Intellectual disability only

World (WHO) [29]

16 [10–40]

<0.01

<0.01

World (GDB) [3]

246 [154–615]

0.4 [0.24–1]

0.4 [0.24–1]

Neurotoxicity total

World (WHO) [29]

5 [3.15–12.6]

<0.01

<0.01

World (GBD) [3]

283 [177–708]

0.45 [0.27–1.1]

0.45 [0.27–1.1]

Methylmercury

Cognitive deficits

U.S. [58]

4·8 [4.2–5.7]

0.03 [0.026–0.04]

<0.01

EU [56]

10.8 [9,6–11.2]

0.06 [0.053–0.062]

<0.01

Sum

15.6 [13.8–16.9]

0.05 [0.044–0.54]

<0.01

Organophosphate pesticides

Cognitive deficits

U.S. [39]

44.7 [14.6–59.5]

0.30 [0.1–0.4]

0.07 [0.2–0.09]

EU [69]

194 [62–259]

1.14 [0.37–1.52]

0.31 [0.09–0.4]

Sum

248.7 [76.6–318.5]

0.8 [0.25–1.02]

0.38 [0.11–0.49]

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers

Cognitive deficits

U.S. [39]

266 [133–367]

1.8 [0.9–2.5]

0.4 [0.2–0.6]

EU [69]

12·6 [2.08–29.4]

0.07 [0.011–0.16]

0.02 [0.003–0.05]

Sum

278.6 [135.08–396.4]

0.9 [0.43–1.28]

0.42 [0.23–0.65]