Danger in the House: Lead Paints

Lead is a toxic element that was previously added to paints. Legally, this process was not regulated in any way, but its use began to lead to serious health problems.

As a result, a significant number of countries adopted appropriate legislative acts regulating its use.

For more than 40 years, progressive countries have not used lead as a component for paint production.

Why was lead added to paint, and how does it affect health?

Lead was used as a pigment for creating bright paints and coatings. It was also used to make paints dry faster and protect metal surfaces from corrosion.

However, the use of lead-based paints can lead to serious health problems.

Lead affects the central nervous system and brain, as well as the circulatory system, kidneys, and even bone tissues. In pregnant women, genetic changes occur in the child, as well as a decrease in their intellectual level.

To combat this problem, the week of October 23-29, 2016, has been declared a week of action to prevent lead poisoning worldwide. During this week, the all-Ukrainian environmental public organization “MAMA-86,” initiated by the international organization WHO, will hold a press conference. The conference’s topic, “The Invisible Killer in Our Home: The Consequences of Using Lead-Based Paints for Ukrainians’ Health,” is quite concerning since the issue of paint safety is very acute not only in Ukraine but also worldwide. Even after the ban on lead use, many manufacturers continue to add this toxic substance to their paint products.

The conference will present research results on Ukrainian paints for their lead content.

It should be noted that the enterprise “ZIP” previously used lead for certain products but more than 10 years ago abandoned the use of this harmful and toxic substance in their products, taking care of their consumers’ health.