14 percent of paints sold here contain lead in excess of permitted limits

By Ifham Nizam

A study has revealed that 14% of paints tested in the country contain lead in excess of 90 ppm (the applicable standard in India, Nepal, the U.S., Canada and many other countries).

The report released yesterday by the Centre for Environmental Justice (CEJ), in association with the US based Occupational Knowledge (OK) International, tests were conducted on 37 paint products purchased from stores and online from 25 different manufacturers.

Samples of lacquer often used on children’s toys, murals and furniture in preschools, contained lead exceeding 90 ppm, the maximum allowed under existing regulations (Gazette Extra Ordinary No. 1725/30 on 30th September 2011). One anti-corrosive paint also contains lead in excess of standard of 600 ppm, according to Environmental Scientist Hemantha Withanage.

CEJ Executive Director Dilena Pathragoda said: “Our research shows that 16 out of 20 products belonging to SMEs have lead levels below 90 ppm. However, it is high time stringent standards standards were introduced for Sri Lankan paints and we urge the regulatory bodies to reduce the maximum permissible Lead level to 90 ppm in all types of paints, coatings, ceramic glazes, and inks.”

CEJ reminds all parents, teachers and caregivers to choose Lead Safe Paints for houses, preschools and the childcare facilities. They are advised to choose unpainted wooden or cloth toys when lead safety is not guaranteed.

“Anti-corrosive paint, sold in small containers in stores are often applied on window grills and outdoor railings in preschools, childcare facilities and households in Sri Lanka. As it deteriorates, it can easily contaminate the dust in households and preschools. Small children under six years that crawl and play on the floor can easily get exposed to lead in dust” said Chalani Rubesinghe, Project planning and management Officer, CEJ.

Lead is a toxic heavy metal that can cause permanent and irreversible brain damage in children. Even at low levels of exposure children experience reduced intelligence and school performance, reduced attention span, impaired learning ability and behavioural problems. In adults lead effects many systems and is associated with deaths from increased blood pressure and cardiovascular disease.

“CEJ’s campaign to eliminate lead in paint has been a tremendous success, but the current report shows that additional regulation and enforcement is needed to protect the public” said Perry Gottesfeld, Executive Director, Occupational Knowledge (OK) International, USA. “Sri Lanka should ban the production, import, export, and use of lead chromate in line with requirements in the European Union.”

He told The Island that Sri Lanka should go all out to impose the 90 PPM limit.

On account of the International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week of Action 2021, in association with IPEN this week, the CEJ reminds the public to select lead-safe paints.

The CEJ has played a leading role in bringing mandatory standards for Lead concentration in paint. The Consumer Affairs Authority set these limits as a result of the case filed by CEJ in 2011 based on research.

Accordingly, enamel and floor paints can have only 600 ppm of lead while the limit is 90 ppm for emulsion and paints used on children’s products, effected from 1st January 2013. It is also mandatory to declare on the label that the paint is lead safe.

Of the paints purchased only 24% of the samples had a required label indicating lead content as per the current standard (Gazette Notification No. 1985/ 38, dated 23rd September 2016).

The sample with the highest lead level (700 ppm) was labelled as lead safe (“Pb safe”) and another lacquer product with lead in excess of 90 ppm, was labelled “Pb free”.

The CEJ has called upon the Sri Lankan Consumer Affairs Authority to improve the monitoring of labeling practices in the paint market.