Introduction on Lead in Paints Campaign

Lead (Pb) compounds have been historically used by paint manufacturers. A number of properties of lead make it commercially attractive for its use in paints. It has colour vibrance and the ability to hold pigments well. It helps paints stand up well to outside weather elements, impart high degree of corrosion resistance and also reduces drying time. In the form of lead carbonate and lead oxides, it has excellent adhesion, drying, and covering abilities. Economically, it is relatively inexpensive.

However, lead based decorative paints (and other products such as gasoline for that matter) have posed several health problems in the developed world. Lead based paints have long been proven to be associated with elevated blood lead levels in children causing subsequent lead poisoning. Scientific evidences have established that children are the most vulnerable population and can be seriously impacted even at very low levels of blood lead. While the toxicity of lead becoming apparent, several western countries have enacted ban or imposed restriction on the use of lead in interior paints. Countries like the US and China have restricted its use to 90 ppm in decorative paints. Also, the sixth session of the Intergovernmental Forum on Chemical Safety (IFCS), held from 15-19 September 2008 in Dakar, Senegal, adopted a unanimous resolution to eliminate lead from paints worldwide.

Subsequently the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management in its recent meet (ICCM3) - Nairobi, 17–21 September 2012 – adopted ‘Lead in Paint’ to be one of the emerging policy issues. The resolution welcome formation of Global Alliance Against Lead in Paints (GAALP) and stressed that activities related to information creation, awareness building, phasing out lead based paints and lead poisoning issues be taken up across the globe.