For the sake of children, step up efforts to produce lead-free paints

The Twelfth International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week (ILPPW) is taking place under the theme, Bright Futures begin Lead Free. The campaign underscores the urgency of eliminating lead paint and other key sources of exposure.

Lead poisoning remains a significant public health concern, particularly for children and expectant mothers. Kenya is experiencing increased demand for paints, driven by the booming construction industry, a trend that is projected to continue as the country moves towards becoming a middle-income economy by 2030.

We all love our homes decorated with all sorts of paints. This gives us a sense of belonging and satisfaction. However, majority of people are not conversant with the contents of the paints that they use and their impacts on health.

According to research conducted in Kenya by the Centre for Environment, Justice and Development (CEJAD) in partnership with the International Pollutant Elimination Network in 2017, some paints have lead. From the findings, 16 out of 51 solvent-based paints tested for home use contained total lead concentrations at or below 90 ppm, suggesting that the technology to produce paint without lead ingredients exists in Kenya, making it a sustainable alternative.

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Children are exposed to lead when lead-containing paint on walls, windows, doors, or other painted surfaces begins to chip or deteriorate. This causes the lead to be released to dust and soil. When a surface previously painted with lead paint is sanded or scraped in preparation for repainting, very large amounts of lead-contaminated dust are produced, which, when spread, can constitute a severe health hazard.

Hand-to-mouth behaviour is prevalent in children aged six years and under, the age group most easily harmed by exposure to lead. If the dust or the soil is contaminated with lead, the children will ingest lead. A typical one to six-year-old child ingests between 100 and 400 milligrams of house dust and soil each day.

Children absorb up to five times as much of ingested lead than adults. The younger the child, the more harmful the lead can be, and the health effects are generally irreversible and can have a lifelong impact. The 2024 lead prevention week seeks to raise awareness that a bright future for our children starts with a lead-free interaction. The human foetus is the most vulnerable, and a pregnant woman can transfer lead that has accumulated in her body to her developing child.

Evidence of reduced intelligence caused by childhood exposure to lead has led WHO to list “lead-caused mental retardation” as a recognised disease. Most product labels are merely labeled as solvents, pigments, and resin, with no further details on the type of solvents and pigments (organic or inorganic) provided. Most warning symbols on the paint cans indicate the flammability of the paints, but no precautionary warnings on the effects of lead dust on children and pregnant women are provided.

Lead Week seeks to create awareness among paint consumers to demand paints with no added lead from paint manufacturers, as well as full disclosure of a paint product’s lead content. Household and institutional consumers should ask for, consciously buy, and apply only paints with no added lead in places frequently used by children, such as homes, schools, daycare centers, parks, and playgrounds.

The Kenya Bureau of Standards should fast track the gazettement and enactment of the paint, varnishes, and related products standards and its integration into the country’s regulatory system to control the manufacture, import, export, distribution, sale, and use of paints that contain total lead concentrations exceeding 90 ppm, the most restrictive standard in the world.

Lead poisoning from lead in paint is preventable and there are cost effective alternatives to lead in paint.