International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week 2020

International Lead Poisoning
Prevention Week
25 - 31 October 2020

Learn the risk: Lead exposure adversely affects human health especially that of children

Call for action: Raise awareness and promote action to prevent lead poisoning from lead paint (major source of lead exposure), particularly in children

Ban lead paint: Work with governments and stakeholders to establish legally binding controls on lead in paint e.g. standards and legislation

What is International Lead Lead Poisoning Prevention Week (ILPPW)?

International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week (ILPPW) is an annual initiative of the Global Alliance to Eliminate Lead Paint (Lead Paint Alliance). The Alliance is a joint undertaking of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Health Organization (WHO). The Lead Paint Alliance was established because lead paint was identified as a global priority under the Strategic Approach for International Chemicals Management (SAICM)- with the goal to promote the establishment of lead paint laws in all countries. During the week, a range of activities takes place around the world. These are organised by community groups, public health departments, academia, government departments and others.

The aim of the week is to take action to:
- Raise awareness about health effects of lead exposure;
- Highlight the efforts of countries and partners to prevent lead exposure,
particularly in children; and
- Urge and accelerate action to eliminate lead paint through regulatory and
legal action at the country level.

What is the Issue?
There is global recognition that lead poisoning is a problem particularly to children, however, many countries have NOT taken action to ban or eliminate lead in paints (decorative) - lead paint is still on the market.

Why are we interested in this issue?
There is evidence or concern to healthcare providers and public health officials worldwide that lead paint is a significant source of lead exposure, especially for children.

Who needs to change their behaviour?
- Policy-makers, regulators, legislators
- Paint manufacturers and retailers
- Public (consumers)

What changes are needed?
- Regulators will initiate the process of eliminating lead in paint by drafting
laws
- Policy makers and legislators will support the development of new laws or revise existing laws
- Paint manufacturers will phase out the addition of lead to paints
- Public will pressure manufacturers to stop making lead paint
- Importers and distributers will prepare to comply with lead paint laws

What is lead?
A naturally occurring toxic metal found in the Earth’s crust. It has many uses including lead-acid batteries, pigments and paints, solder, ammunition, ceramic glazes, jewellery, toys, cosmetics and traditional medicines.

What is lead poisoning?
Refers to excessive human exposure to lead through inhalation (fumes, particles) or ingestion (lead-contaminated dust, soil, water, food). Exposure may occur over a short space of time (acute poisoning) or over a prolonged period (chronic poisoning).

What is lead paint?
In the context of action to eliminate lead paint, the term ‘paint’ includes varnishes, lacquers, stains, enamels, glazes, primers and other coatings. Paint is typically a formulated mixture of resins, pigments, fillers, solvents and other additives. Lead paint is paint to which one or more lead compounds have been added to confer specific properties such as colour, corrosion-resistance or to speed up drying. Lead compounds are primarily added to some solvent-based paints, such as enamel (gloss) paints. The lead content of paint can range from less than 90 ppm (90 mg/kg) to over 100 000 ppm (100 000 mg/kg).

Lead Exposure Causes Wide-ranging Health Effects and Environmental Impacts

Lead exposure, even at low levels, exerts toxic effects on multiple body systems, including the central nervous, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, reproductive, haematological, renal, and immunological systems.

Who is at the Most Risk?

Young children are especially vulnerable to lead toxicity, and even low levels of exposure can result in reduced intelligence quotient (IQ), reduced attention span, increased antisocial behaviour and reduced educational attainment.

Pregnant women are also vulnerable, and lead exposure is associated with reduced fetal growth, lower birth weight, preterm birth and spontaneous abortion. Lead stored in the body can be released during pregnancy, breast feeding and menopause.

Environmental impact. When released into the environment, lead poses threats to both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems.

Young children are vulnerable to lead exposure from contaminated dust and flaking paint. They spend a lot of time at ground level, and ingest lead-contaminated dust through normal hand-to-mouth behaviour.
They may also mouth, suck and chew on lead-containing or lead-coated objects, including toys and furniture, and may persistently eat flakes of lead paint.

Exposure to Lead from Paint Occurs in Multiple Ways

While the paint remains intact, the lead content is not a hazard; however, as the paint ages, it starts to crumble and flake, releasing lead into household dust. In addition, the removal of interior or exterior lead paint by abrasive methods or by charring or burning releases lead dust, particles and fumes that contaminate the indoor or outdoor environment.

Workers can be exposed to lead during paint manufacture, application and removal if adequate measures are not in place to prevent exposure. If there are no facilities at the workplace for changing clothes and washing, workers may bring lead dust home on their clothing and expose their families.

Lead Paint is an Important, but Preventable Source of Exposure to Lead

For governments, regulating lead paint is an important primary prevention measure to tackle a priority chemical of public health concern. From a strategic perspective, this action contributes to mainstreaming primary prevention in the sound management of chemicals.

Eliminating lead paint brings economic benefits
Countries that continue to permit the manufacture, sale and use of lead paint are creating a legacy of continuing lead exposure and long-term negative health effects. Eliminating lead paint now brings future economic benefits in terms of preventing losses due to reduced productivity and avoiding the costs of the health impacts of lead and of dealing with legacy lead paint to make homes and other premises safe.

A 90-ppm limit for total lead content in paint is protective and feasible
In the case of paint, a limit is needed that is protective but also technically feasible for paint manufacturers. The Model Law and Guidance for Regulating Lead Paint, developed by the Lead Paint Alliance, recommends a limit of 90 ppm.

What can Member States do to Eliminate Lead in Paint?

There are safer alternatives to lead compounds for use as pigments and driers. These have been available and do not significantly increase the cost of paint.
In countries where lead paint is still available, governments should introduce legally binding controls to either ban or restrict the use of lead paint. Examples of control measures include prohibiting the use of any lead compounds in paint or setting a maximum permissible limit for the lead content of paint at the lowest feasible level (enforceable standards).
Other measures include requiring the use of paint with no added lead in public buildings such as schools and hospitals, and informing the general public about the hazards of lead to encourage the purchase of paint without added lead. Market pressure can encourage paint manufacturers to take voluntary action to stop adding lead compounds to their products.

What can I do?
- Protect yourself and your family from lead exposure by being a careful
consumer
- Get informed about sources of lead exposure in your community
- Avoid buying products that may contain lead paint (check the label)
- Lobby your politicians to put legal controls on lead if none exists
- Get expert advice about safe methods for removing paint that may contain lead