(Hey everyone, here is a highly publicized issue in relation to lead toxicity. Lead in paint)
This journal article, titled ‘Lead levels in new enamel household paints from Asia, Africa and South America’ by Clark et al, deals with levels of lead in newly produced paints from twelve different countries in Africa, Asia and South America. The researchers who conducted the study took three hundred and thirty seven samples from paints produced in twelve different countries. They took these samples from paints that were available in public paint shops and the paint was extracted from the surface it was applied on and analyzed using absorption spectroscopy. The results of the study show that the overall lowest average for lead concentration, around 6988ppm, in paints came from Singapore while the highest average lead concentration, around 31,960 ppm, was present in the paints that were produced in Ecuador. Also, the data shows that the lowest average lead concentration were present in white paint, around 1547 ppm, while the highest average levels of lead poisoning were present in yellow paint which had a level around 47,250 ppm. It has also been found that the darker less vibrant hues, such as white, brown, black and blue, had levels of lead that were found to be les than the mandated cut off level of lead which is 600ppm. The white paint was found to have the lowest percentage, around 33%, of samples in which the cutoff was exceeded or equaled. In comparison, for the orange paints around 89% of the samples exceeded or equaled the cutoff levels. Furthermore, it was discovered that fifty four percent of the paints produced in Singapore and China had concentrations less than the United States’ cutoff level for lead concentration in paints of 90ppm. From these findings the researchers were able to conclude that the technology necessary to produce low lead level paints is currently available (Clark et al.., 2009).
The issue of high lead concentration in paint and controlling levels of harmful lead has been a pivotal one in terms of toxic substances. This is so because children who are easily affected by lead are readily exposed to it in whenever they are in older homes which were painted using high lead concentrated paint. Also, another avenue for lead to enter the bodily systems of children is through toys, which were also painted using paint that contained high levels of lead. Recently, the United States has emphasized its policy on low lead levels by reducing the mandatory cutoff level of lead in paint to 90 ppm. The emphasis on lead and reducing concentrations of it paint and other sources are due to its menagerie of toxic effects that are especially magnified in children whose bodies are developing and thus, absorb more lead than adults. These effects in children include, brain and nervous system damage leading to subsequent behavior and learning problems, hearing problems, slowed development and maturity. In adults, these effects include reproductive issues, high blood pressure and hypertension, muscle and joint pains and memory and concentration problems (Epa.gov, 2009). I believe that the Unites States is making great progress in terms of reducing lead contamination and exposure through new regulates. I was especially overjoyed to see the recall of two million toys that did not meet the new standards of lead paint concentration.
The Links to the article and Website used are as follows:
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