Study finds high amount of lead in household paints

NEW DELHI: Check out the attractive paint shining on your wall! It might be toxic. A study has found high amount of dangerous lead in household paint samples picked from metros like Delhi and Mumbai.

Tests conducted on the samples showed an alarming levels of lead in enamel paints (with a gloss finish). The findings were similar for most of the paints available in the market, says the study titled "A brush With toxics: an investigation on lead in household paints in India", conducted by Toxic
Links, an NGO.

It had picked a wide range of paint samples which were tested at Galson Laboratories, New York.

"Of 31 enamel paint samples analysed for lead concentration, 83.87 per cent had more than 600 parts per million (ppm) of lead," Abhay Kumar, who has conducted the study, said.

"High concentration of lead in enamel paints is the most worrying part of the whole issue of lead in paints. Except for one brand, all others had multiple samples that contained high concentration of lead, exceeding the Indian standard of 1000 ppm (0.1 per cent) and the US standard of 600 ppm," he added.

The results also indicated that most enamel paint samples had lead concentration ranging from two per cent to 14 per cent, he said.

Kumar pointed out that the Bureau of Indian Standard (BIS) has slated 1000 ppm as the benchmark for acceptable levels for lead in paints, which is not only voluntary but also optional as a part of Ecomark labelling.

"Therefore, a manufacturer is not bound by law to provide safe household paints, even if they pose serious health risks," he said.

Talking about the need to conduct this study, Ravi Aggarwal of Toxic Links said, "The idea behind this research was to determine the total concentration of lead in decorative paints of all types -- plastic, enamel and exterior."

Although studies have been conducted on lead as a source of health hazard in soil, atmosphere and toys, very few studies have been done in India on lead in paints, he said.

Health impact of these chemicals is highly dangerous as they target the nervous system in adults and children alike.

For instance, Kumar warned, "Long-term exposure would affect the functions of the nervous system. It may also cause weakness in fingers, wrists or ankles."

It also causes small increases in blood pressure, particularly in middle-aged and older people. The chemical can severely damage the brain and kidneys in adults or children and ultimately cause death due to high levels of exposure.

In pregnant women, high levels of exposure to lead may cause miscarriage. In men it can damage the organs responsible for sperm production.

"We want the government and the industry to take note of the issue of heavy metal toxicity in daily use products in earnest and make a strong policy intervention by the way of creating a binding mechanism and a system to enforce it," Agarwal added.