Dhaka, Nov. 17 -- A recent study by UNICEF and the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) found that nearly four out of ten children in Bangladesh have concerning levels of lead in their blood.

According to the report, 38per cent of children aged 12 to 59 months and nearly 8per cent of pregnant women have blood lead levels above the safe limit.

Residents of Dhaka were the most affected, with 65 percent showing lead concentrations exceeding safe thresholds.

UNICEF says lead pollution poses a threat to children's brain development and impacts all socio-economic classes.

More than half of the affected children are from higher-income families, while 30 percent are from lower-income families, the survey report says.

The Bangladesh Bureau o...