Lead Paint Background

Is lead still used in paints?

While developed countries have implemented standards to regulate the use of lead in paint, much of the paint currently sold for residential use in most countries contains high levels of lead. A recent study examining lead concentrations in the paint of 10 developing countries demonstrates that 68 % of the new paints tested exceed the U.S. standard of 90 ppm (effective August 2009). Published studies conducted in India, China, and other counties have had similar findings. The following is a list of countries where recent studies (2005 to 2011) have found a substantial portion of new residential paints contain lead at levels at or above 90 ppm:

In addition to these products being sold for application on the interior and exterior of homes, lead paint is commonly used on steel structures (e.g., bridges), vehicles and consumer products (e.g., children's toys). Even where lead concentrations in paint are regulated, there are typically exceptions for commercial or industrial use.

More than 2.5 billion people live in countries where lead paint is still sold for residential use!

Lead Paint Hazards

People are exposed to lead in paint from various routes. Buildings painted with lead paint either on the interior or exterior have higher concentrations of lead in the dust. Children are most susceptible to exposure as they have frequent hand-to-mouth contact and play close to the ground where paint dust collects. Homes with lead paint on the exterior often have excessive lead levels in soil found adjacent to the structure from weathering and the dust generated from previous painting projects. This lead is then tracked into the home and contributes to the dust contamination. Children may also be exposed to lead from paint on toys, furniture, playground equipment, and other products. Workers are exposed from manufacturing lead paint, products made with lead paint, and more commonly from disturbing lead paint during construction and painting activities.

Even if lead is eliminated from all new paint, millions of homes will still contain lead hazards for centuries. Dust released from friction and impact surfaces and contaminated soil will persist in the environment for years. In the U.S. where paint containing more than 600 ppm of lead was banned for residential use since 1978, approximately 185,000 children still have blood lead levels (BLL) that exceed 10 µg/dL. This is the beginning level of concern according to the U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines.

Global Alliance to Eliminate Lead in Paint

In order to minimize harmful human exposures, OK International is working in coordination with other non-governmental organizations, governments and industry leaders around the world on a global alliance to eliminate lead in paint. While a small number of countries have national laws and programs on lead in paint, these products remain unregulated in most countries. In addition, there is a need for international cooperation to disseminate information and to standardize labeling. Many developing countries may look to the alliance for model legislation that can help them address lead paints. See OK International's lead paint certification proposal here.

The Global Alliance to Eliminate Lead in Paints had its first meeting in Geneva, Switzerland from May 26-28, 2010. The goal of the alliance is to prevent childhood exposure to lead via paints and minimize occupational exposure to lead in paint by phasing out the manufacture and sale of paints containing lead. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Health Organization jointly serve as the secretariat of the voluntary global partnership. Among the main outcomes of the meeting were an agreed draft framework setting out the overall goal, objectives and organizational structure of the Global Alliance, and draft work plans for various areas of focus including human health, environment, outreach to industry, and legislation. The Global Alliance further agreed on the definition of “lead paint”, as any paint (to include varnish, lacquer, stain, enamel, glaze, primer or coating) with a lead concentration greater than 90 ppm (parts per million).

Substitutes for lead in paint

Substitutes for lead-based pigments have been available for over one hundred years and titanium dioxide and zinc oxide are commonly used for this purpose. In most countries where lead paint is commonly sold for residential use, competing brands that have eliminated the use of lead pigment and other lead additives are often available within the same price range.

Lead in Toys

Children often place toys and jewelry in their mouths and these items are sometimes swallowed. Products intended for children that are painted with lead based paint are a known source of lead exposure. The State of California reported that 36% of children in the state with lead poisoning had been exposed to at least one lead-containing item. From 2007 to 2009, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued 137 recalls on over ten million imported toys due to excessive lead content underlining the global public health threat posed by unchecked use of lead paints. See the CPSC recall list for toys and jewelry containing excessive amounts of lead.

Levels of lead in paint

Most countries do not have regulatory limitations on lead content in paint or only have voluntary standards in place. In countries with regulations, the permissible lead levels are often inconsistent with a range of excluded applications. Standards between countries vary greatly and some regulations reference soluble lead and others total lead (percent by weight). The following table summarizes some countries with national regulations limiting lead content in paint:

Table 1: Lead in Paint Regulations by Country

Several studies published in scientific journals have demonstrated that alarmingly high levels of lead are common in many new paints sold in developing countries. The tables below summarize the lead levels found in new residential paints since 2006:

Table 2: Lead Levels in New Residential Paint (2009)

Source: Clark, C.S. et al, Lead levels in new enamel household paints from Asia, Africa and South America. Environ. Res. (2009), doi:10.1016/j.envres.2009.07.002.

Table 3: Lead Levels in New Residential Paint (2006-2009)

Sources:

1 Clark CS, Rampal KG, Thuppil V, Chen CK, Clark R, Roda S. The lead content of currently available new residential paint in several Asian countries. Environ Res 2006; 102:9-12.

2 Lin GZ, Peng RF, Chen Q, Wu ZG, Du L. Lead in housing paints: an exposure still not taken seriously for children lead poisoning in China. Environ Res 2009; 109:1-5.

3 Clark CS et al., 2006.

4 Kumar A, Gottesfeld P. Lead content in household paints in India. Sci Total Environ 2008; 407:333-337.

5 Clark CS et al., 2006.

6 Adebamowo EO, Clark CS, Roda S, Agbede OA, Sridhar MKC, Adebamowo CA. Lead content of dried films of domestic paints currently sold in Nigeria. Sci Total Environ 2007; 388:116-120.

7 Clark CS et al., 2006.

8 Mathee A, Rollin H, Levin J, Naik I. Lead in paint: three decades later and still a hazard for African children?. Environ Health Perspect 2007; 115:321-322.