On June 5, Zhang Jinliang, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Environmental Sciences, released the report "Investigation on the Status Quo of Lead Contained in Paint in China" (hereinafter referred to as the "report") at the 10th China Enterprise Green Contract Forum. Through on-site testing and product sampling, the report focuses on the current production and use of coatings, and strives to promote the government, enterprises, and social third parties to participate in green actions in the coatings industry to reduce lead exposure.
The report shows that in recent years, the compliance rate of lead in paints in my country has made significant progress. The compliance rate of total lead has risen from 20% in 2021 to 62% in 2023; % rise to 50% in 2023.
The report suggests that China should revise and improve my country's paint control standards and regulations, adopt "total lead content" to limit the legal lead limit in all paint-related standards, implement lead-free paint standards for paints of all children-related products, and Carry out extensive publicity and education, so that all social strata are aware of the possible lead exposure of children caused by lead paint and the health hazards, and to a certain extent, promote manufacturers to produce lead-free paint.
The report was jointly completed and released by Beijing Entrepreneur Environmental Protection Foundation, China Coating Industry Association, Shenzhen Zero Waste Environmental Protection Public Welfare Development Center, and Changsha Shuguang Environmental Protection Public Welfare Development Center.
Children are more susceptible to lead exposure
Lead is a cumulative poison that can cause irreversible damage to multiple organs in the body. Children are more susceptible and more vulnerable to lead exposure. Lead exposure has a particularly pronounced effect on children's neurological development, leading to decreased IQ, attention deficits, learning difficulties, hyperactivity and poor impulse control, among others. Lead paint is one of the recognized sources of lead pollution. In order to improve the durability of paint, enhance paint color and anti-corrosion and moisture resistance, some manufacturers will add lead-containing raw materials in the production of paint. Once these lead-containing paints are absorbed by the human body, they will seriously endanger human health, especially the health of children.
Since my country stopped selling and using leaded gasoline on July 1, 2000, the blood lead level of children in my country has dropped significantly. This fully shows that controlling lead from the source of products is the most effective measure to prevent lead pollution and children's lead exposure.
Lead in paint has long been a concern. The two International Chemicals Management Conferences in 2009 and 2015 respectively raised the issue of lead in paint and the goal of eliminating lead paint. In the "International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week" held by the World Health Organization (WHO) in October every year, promoting the removal of lead from paint is an important topic. According to WHO statistics, as of June 30, 2023, 45% of countries in the world have implemented legally binding control measures for the production, import, sale and use of lead paint.
Proposed lead-free paint standard for children-related products
my country is the largest paint producer in Asia, accounting for nearly one-third of the global paint market. In 2020, my country issued and implemented two national standards, which greatly reduced the limit of total lead content to limit the production and use of lead-containing paint.
The report shows that in 2023, Shenzhen Zero Waste and Non-Toxic Pioneer conducted three surveys, including surveys of lead content in coatings in different scenarios, surveys of lead content in industrial paints, and surveys of lead content in soluble wood paints. investigation. The survey shows that the non-compliance rate of lead content in coating layers in different scenarios is 56%, that of industrial coatings is 30%, and that of soluble wood paints is 32%. The non-compliance samples are mainly concentrated in yellow, In paints of orange, red, and green colors.
The report pointed out that although my country issued the first paint safety standard conditions as early as 1986, it established mandatory limit values for lead content in toy paints, which were successively issued and revised in the past two decades Many paint safety standards have been established, but paints with excessive lead content are often available on the market.
In order to speed up the process of lead removal in paints in my country, further reduce children's lead exposure, and protect children's health, the report suggests that my country's paint lead control standards and regulations should be further revised and improved, and "total lead content" should be used to limit the amount of lead in all paint-related standards. Statutory lead limit; strict standards should be established for paints related to children. It is recommended to implement lead-free paint standards for paints related to children, set the legal total lead limit to 90ppm, and implement mandatory paint products Certification; Implement lead-free standards for all directly accessible residential, public buildings/structures, and finishes on public facilities.
The report also recommends the introduction of policies requiring online sales platforms to strictly control paint products, remove non-compliant products from the shelves, and require product introductions to provide accurate and clear information about the type, application scenario, and certification status of paint, so as to Prevent consumers from buying and misusing paint and being exposed to lead paint.
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