Popular paints cross toxic lead limit: Report
Popular decorative paint brands manufactured by multinational companies are found containing excessive amount of lead (Pb), a prime toxic chemical, thanks to the lack of a regulatory mechanism in the country to restrict high lead concentration in the products.
A joint report on ‘Investigating Lead Content in Leading Enamel Paint Brands in South Asia’ released by the Center for Public Health and Environment Development (CEPHED) on Friday says paint samples collected from various companies selling their products in Nepal showed cumulative average lead concentration of 28,417.6 parts per million (ppm), which is 316 times the US standard limit of 90 ppm.
The study on lead content in enamel samples was based on two benchmarks available to compare the lead concentrations—US 90 ppm limit and voluntary standard of 1000 ppm in India—which are the only available standards in the selected countries.
The joint report was prepared by CEPHED along with Toxics Link, India, and the Environment and Social Development Organisation, Bangladesh, for Nepal, India and Bangladesh.
A total of 27 samples of Berger, Asian Paints, Nerolac and ICI Dulux found in the countries were collected and tested in the lab to determine the concentration of lead in the paints. Ram Charitra Sah, executive director of CEPHED, said that besides the significant increase in concentration of toxic lead in the paints, the comparisons across the brands and shades
of the samples tested confirmed clear differential standards in the three countries. According to him, the acclaimed multinational manufacturing companies like Asian Paints and Berger have been found selling leaded paints in Nepal while marketing much cleaner coats in India.
“These companies have no right to carry out their businesses at the cost of our children’s health, hiding behind the lax regulatory regime on lead in paints here in Nepal,” Sah said.
The World Health Organisation’s (WHOs) 2006 report states lead as a well-known neurotoxic metal causing impairment of neurodevelopment of children.
The WHO accepts that there is ‘no safe blood lead level’ in humans. Due to its high toxicity particularly among children and unborn foetuses, several western countries have enacted ban or imposed restriction on the use of lead in interior paints.
“Long term exposure to lead can cause many neurological dysfunctions, permanent brain damage and even death,” Dr Jyoti Ratna Dhakhwa of Kanti Children’s Hospital said.
“We are yet to diagnose lead poisoning in Nepali children. However, we are sure that the effect of lead is an already prevalent problem among our children and their parents are unaware of it.” Dhakhwa added that the lack of awareness among parents has aggravated the situation.
In Nepal, the famous brands of coating, namely Berger and Asian Paints, exceeded the US standard marking by whooping 1021 and 240 times, respectively, while the ICI Dulux samples exhibited far below 90 ppm concentration, it was reported.
The report says it is interesting to note that both Asian Paints and Nerolac claim to be selling lead-free paints in the country.
“The government must prescribe mandatory and stricter standards for lead in decorative paint in line with global best standards,” said Sah.
Posted on: 2011-07-10 09:10
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