Lead poisoning: 12 paints found with elevated lead levels above the regulatory limit of 90 ppm

The Cameroonian NGO  »the Centre for Research and Education for Development’’ has made public the results of the recent study on lead in paints.

Certain paints with a high lead content are still available for purchase in Cameroon, despite Order No. 0004/MINEPDED/CAB of September 21, 2017, which forbids their manufacture, importation, marketing, and use in the country, according to a recent study on the lead content of (enameled) oil paints sold in Cameroon that was released by the Centre for Research and Education for Development (CREPD) and the International Pollutants Elimination Network (IPEN). Higher than the legal limit of 90 parts per million (ppm) of lead was found in 32% of the paints that were bought and examined. One of them, a yellow spray paint that was imported from the United Arab Emirates, has the highest lead content—90,000 parts per million. Compared to the statutory concentration limit of 90 ppm, this figure is 1000 times greater. However, lead was not purposefully introduced to 64% of the paints in the study.

As for the World Health Organization (WHO), it recognizes that lead paint is a major source of « mental retardation in children ». It identifies mental retardation as one of the top ten diseases whose health burden on children is due to modifiable environmental factors.

« The toxic effects of lead on children’s brains are irreversible and permanent, and children aged six and under are the most vulnerable to lead poisoning, » says Dr. Kuepouo Gilbert, Executive Director of CREPD. « We need to enforce the ban on lead paint now to protect them from avoidable exposure to lead-containing paints used in domestic and school buildings, as well as on toys and playground equipment, » added Dr. Kuepouo.

« Lead paint remains a major source of lead exposure in children today and no known threshold for lead is considered safe, » he adds. « Lead paint remains a major source of lead exposure in children today and no known threshold for lead is considered safe, » he adds.

To the paint industries, the CREPD and IPEN recommend that it comply with national regulations; and promotes lead-free paints.

As for consumers, only purchase and use lead-free paints, especially in places frequently used by children such as homes, schools, health centers, parks, and playgrounds, and require full disclosure of the contents of a paint product prior to purchase.

Carole AMBASSA