Quezon City. In an unprecedented move, the civil society and the paint industry of the Philippines stepped up their collaborative action to uphold the country’s all-encompassing prohibition against lead-containing paints in order to safeguard the health of children and other vulnerable populations against the harmful effects of lead exposure.
Despite national bans in dozens of countries, lead-containing paint continues to be a widespread source of lead exposure today. Global health authorities say that there are no safe levels of lead exposure for children and increasing evidence shows that low levels of lead exposure are harmful for adults.
This report presents new data on the total lead content of solvent-based paints for decorative and industrial uses available on the market in Tanzania. It also presents background information on why the use of lead paint is a source of serious concern, especially to children’s health; a review of national policy frameworks that are in place banning the manufacture, import, export, sale, and use of lead paint, and provides a strong justification to strengthen compliance monitoring and enforcement of lead paint regulatory controls in Tanzania.
Emeryville, California, USA/Quezon City, Philippines. Ahead of the International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week (October 20-26), SCS Global Services, a pioneer and international leader in third-party sustainability and environmental certifications, is pleased to announce that Duracoat 100% Pure Acrylic Latex Paint manufactured in the Philippines has been certified as lead-safe.
A new report from IPEN finds that while the EU and other countries have banned the use of lead chromates, they continue to allow production and export of this paint ingredient, putting children and families in recipient countries at risk from lead poisoning.
A-Plus Paints pass independent Lead Safe Paint® verification
Monday, 24 June 2024
21 June 2024, Talisay City/Quezon City. A-Plus and three other paint products of FH Colors & Coatings Corp. have been certified “lead safe” following a meticulous third-party verification confirming compliance with the strictest regulatory standard for lead content in paints.
Listing lead chromates under the Rotterdam Convention is needed to address transparency in the lead paint industry
Monday, 10 June 2024
Jakarta, 11 June 2024 - A study released today by Nexus3 and IPEN finds that workers in factories where lead paint is made have increased risks for health problems, including cancer, compared to workers where lead-safe paints are made. Using blood lead level testing, the study finds that workers in the lead paint making facilities had blood lead levels linked to a significant increase in their lifetime cancer risk, 4 times higher than for workers in a facility that eliminated lead nearly 20 years ago, and 2.5 times higher than for workers in a facility that eliminated lead recently.
“More than 90% of raw materials used to produce paints are chemicals. Our study shows that chronic exposure to lead and other heavy metals increases the cancer risk and non-cancer risks of paint workers. Replacing lead with safer alternatives, regular risk communication, the use of PPEs, and adequate facilities for workers to clean themselves before they go home is crucial to protect workers," said Yuyun Ismawati, Senior Advisor with Nexus3 Foundation."The government of Indonesia must prohibit lead paint being manufactured and sold in Indonesia."
Until 2021, about 77% of decorative paints manufactured and sold in Indonesia contained high lead concentrations above the global achievable safe level of 90 ppm. Lead is a toxic heavy metal and is classified as a probable human carcinogen.
This study was conducted in Indonesia from 2022 to 2023 and aimed to assess the health risks faced by paint manufacturers' workers in three factories grouped as follows:
14 March 2024, Pasay City/Quezon City. The thriving paint industry in the Philippines marked another milestone with the launch today of duly certified Lead Safe Paint® (LSP®) products at the Philippine World Building and Construction Exposition, or the WORLDBEX 2024, that was graced by government, industry and civil society leaders, as well as by basketball players from the Rain or Shine Elastopainters.