Scale of Lead Exposures & Strategies for Mitigation of Impacts in Indonesia

Lead exposure remains a significant public health and environmental challenge in Indonesia, with over 7.8 million children estimated to have blood lead levels (BLL) above 5 µg/dL and more than 57,000 annual deaths attributed to lead-related diseases. Pure Earth Indonesia, a non-profit organization dedicated to mitigating the impact of toxic pollution, has been supporting initiatives to address this crisis through research, technical intervention, policy advocacy, and public education.
Recent projects include the Toxic Sites Identification Program (TSIP) in Java and Sumatra, where 63% of assessed sites were found contaminated with lead—85% linked to informal used lead-acid battery (ULAB) recycling. Complementing this, a 2023 BLL Study identified key determinants of elevated BLLs in children, including poor sanitation, use of aluminum cookware, low breastfeeding duration, and living near contaminated sites.
To build a national lead exposure prevention system, Pure Earth Indonesia launched a BLL surveillance program in 2025 targeting over 1,600 children. This initiative evaluates exposure sources at the household and community level, while testing the feasibility of a broader national BLL monitoring system.
In parallel, efforts are underway to promote environmentally sound ULAB recycling practices (2024–2027), with strong engagement from government agencies, industry associations, and formal recyclers. The organization has also undertaken studies on metallic cookware in educational and institutional settings to identify non-traditional lead exposure pathways.
Together, these initiatives reflect a comprehensive strategy aimed at reducing lead exposure and its long-term health impacts, contributing to Indonesia’s vision of a healthier population by 2045.

Presenters

Nickolaus Hariojati

Program Manager, Yayasan Pure Earth Indonesia

Indonesia

Nickolaus Hariojati is a program manager with over a decade of experience managing impactful programs in Indonesia. Starting his career as a Project Officer with Pure Earth Indonesia in 2014, Nickolaus has led numerous initiatives addressing lead exposure, mercury pollution, artisanal gold mining, and hazardous waste management. His expertise spans project development, coordination with government and community stakeholders, data analysis, reporting, and policy advocacy.
His accomplishments include supporting Indonesia’s first lead-contaminated site remediation, integrating TSIP data into the national database, and coordinating regional planning for environmental health. Nickolaus played a central role in the Protecting Every Child’s Potential project in collaboration with UNICEF which one of its objectives was identifying sources of lead exposure in five countries. He also contributed to capacity building in artisanal small-scale gold mining (ASGM) sector under the UNDP GOLD-ISMIA program.
Nickolaus, holds a Bachelor’s degree in Forestry from Gadjah Mada University, has completed international training programs including the U.S. Department of State’s IVLP, and has co-authored publications in peer-reviewed journals such as Elsevier. His work reflects a strong commitment to hazardous waste management, community empowerment, and policy innovation.
Currently, he is deeply involved in research and advocacy related to lead exposure from metal cookware and promoting environmentally sound ULAB recycling. With a forward-looking vision, he continues to champion sustainable environmental practices and public health improvements across Indonesia, combining technical rigor with inclusive stakeholder engagement.