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(Reviving the petition) Open appeal to the Prime Minister by the citizens of India to eliminate lead from paints
By: Toxics Link, Source: Toxics Link Website, Date: , 2009
Please sign the petition at http://toxicslink.org/alert-viewp.php?alertnum=11 Hon’ble Prime Minister,
We, the undersigned citizens of this country, do
appeal to you to bring necessary legislations to eliminate the use of
lead in paints, and thereby saving people especially children from
significant health hazards associated with lead.
Countries of developed world moved long ago to
eliminate lead from paints. Recently Intergovernmental Forum on
Chemical Safety (IFCS), a body formed by United Nations Environment
Programme (UNEP) adopted a resolution to eliminate lead from paints
worldwide.
Lead is a known neuro-toxin, which can severely
damage the brain and kidneys in adults or children and ultimately cause
death. In pregnant women, high levels of exposure to lead may cause
miscarriage. Even low levels of lead exposure to children cause a wide
array of negative effects, including cognitive, motor, behavioral, and
physical harm. There is no safe level of lead exposure. The new
research findings reveal that long-term, low levels of lead exposure
reduces children’s intelligence.
The most common source of lead exposure to
children today is paints, found in homes, schools, parks, etc. As paint
wears off, it contaminates the dust that clings to surfaces, toys and
the fingers of children. Although children are known to eat paint
chips, more commonly lead paints in and around homes contribute to dust
and soil contamination that is often the most significant source of
exposure for children. Children then ingest lead from playing close to
the ground and having frequent hand-to-mouth contact. Significant
exposure may also occur from lead paint when smaller particles become
airborne during sanding and scrapping while repainting and remodeling.
In addition, damaged paint and the weathering of paints on the exterior
of buildings also contribute to lead in soil.
To investigate the problem globally, Recently
Toxics Link an environmental NGO in partnership with IPEN conducted a
global study to test paint for lead in local markets in countries
across Africa, Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe. The results
confirmed that leaded paint is still being produced and sold, exposing
children and communities to this toxic substance.
Toxics Link also conducted a study on levels of
lead in various brands of paints available in India and found high
concentrations of lead exceeding the globally accepted standards in all
popular brands of enamel paints, but one. It also analysed household
dusts for lead loadings in Delhi and found that a significant percent
of samples exceeded the international standard. Unfortunately, India
does not have a mandatory and globally accepted standard for lead in
paints.
We, therefore, would like to urge upon you to do
the needful for a globally accepted mandatory standards for lead
concentrations in new paints in the country to ensure that our future
generations remain protected from its serious health impacts.
Please sign the petition at http://toxicslink.org/alert-viewp.php?alertnum=11
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