OneWorld.net (U.S.)

New Delhi, 12 September 2007: Close on the heels of a shocking study about high levels of heavy metals in plastic and PVC toys, cutting across brands and country of make, Toxics Link today released a new study that found dangerously high amounts of lead in household paint samples picked from Delhi and Mumbai markets.

The study titled: 'A Brush With Toxics: An Investigation on Lead in Household Paints in India', is the most comprehensive research on the issue both in terms of the sample size and the range of paint types. The samples were tested at Galson Laboratories, New York.

Explaining the purpose the study, Ravi Agarwal, Director of Toxics Link, said: "The idea behind this research was to determine the total concentration of lead in decorative paints of all types viz., plastic, enamel and exterior intended for residential use. Although lead as a source of health hazard has been studied in soil, atmosphere and toys, very few studies have been done on paints in India."

The tests on the samples show an alarming levels of lead in enamel paints (with a gloss finish) and this holds true for most of the paints available in the market. "Of 31 enamel paint sample analysed for lead concentration, 83.87 percent had more than 600 ppm of lead, 19.1 percent had less than 600 ppm," said Dr. Abhay Kumar, author of the study.

"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 voluntary Indian standard of 1000 ppm (0.1 percent) and the US standard of 600 ppm. The results also indicated that most enamel paint samples had lead concentration ranging from 2 percent to 14 percent,"

Skewed Standards The Bureau of Indian Standards (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 manufacture is not bound by law to provide safe household paints, even if they pose serious health risks. Health Impact Whether it enters the body through breathing or swallowing, lead targets the nervous system, in adults and children alike. Long-term exposure is known to result in decreased performance in some tests that measure functions of the nervous system. Lead exposure may also cause weakness in fingers, wrists or ankles.

It also causes small increases in blood pressure, particularly in middle-aged and older people. Lead exposure may also cause anemia. At high levels of exposure, lead can severely damage the brain and kidneys in adults or children and ultimately cause death. In pregnant women, high levels of exposure to lead may cause miscarriage. High-level exposure in men can damage the organs responsible for sperm production.

Speaking on the findings of the study and the need to eliminate lead from paints, Perry Gottesfeld, Director Occupational Knowledge International and a leading expert on the issue, said: "The fact that one of the major brands has already taken out lead from their products shows that this can be done without any major disruption to the industry. Lead-based paints have already been banned in the U.S. and other countries."

"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," asserted Mr. Agarwal.

Key findings of the study:

* Most of the enamel paints contain high concentration of lead, well above 1000 ppm lead standard. Only one paint brand contains lesser amount of lead.

* Plastic and exterior paints contain low concentration of lead across the brands, the levels are below the Indian voluntary standard of 1000 ppm.

* Majority enamel samples (83.87 %) contained more than 600 or 1000 ppm of lead while 61.3 percent of samples had more than 5000 ppm.

* 38 percent of all samples, including plastic, enamel and exterior types, contained lead at levels above 600 ppm.

Contact: Parvinder Singh at 9811703798 Dr. Abhay Kumar 9868739792