LEAD IN PAINT A REALITY IN AFRICA-THE CASE OF TANZANIA

Lead is a naturally occurring bluish-gray metal found in the earth's crust.
Prior to our current knowledge of the health hazards of lead, it has been
widely used in products such as gasoline, batteries, metal products,
crystal, food cans, fishing sinkers and ammunition. It is also contained in
paints. It is well known for its anti-corrosive properties and has been
extensively used in construction industry. This Blogg caught
up with Executive Secretary for AGENDA, Silvani Mng'anya. AGENDA promotes a
culture of responsibility to the environment amongst the general public
through advocacy, capacity building and stakeholders' involvement in
Tanzania and beyond. Here he explains about Lead, its uses, laws governing
Lead and its associated health challenges:



QUESTION: Is there lead paint in Tanzania?
ANSWER: First of all, lead paint is any paint that relies on lead compounds
for drying or for its colour. Usually lead is added to paints to speed up
drying after application to surfaces, maintain fresh appearance, and resist
moisture that causes corrosion. Some amount of lead is also associated with
the raw materials.

Today paints are still sold with added lead in developing countries and
countries with economies in transition such as Tanzania, South Africa,
Nigeria, Senegal, India and China. This was demonstrated during a Global
Study on Lead in Paint in 2009 conducted by Toxics Link, the International
POPs Elimination Network (IPEN) in collaboration with NGOs in the countries.
AGENDA for Environment and Responsible Development was amongst the partners
who participated in the study mentioned above. It collected 20 samples of
oil based paint available in Tanzanian market. 19 out of 20 paints had lead
levels above 450 ppm.

Q: What does the law say about lead paint in Tanzania?

A: During the study in 2009 and a follow-up one in 2012, it was noted that
there is a voluntary standard set by Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS)
which indicates lead in paint should not exceed 450 ppm or 0.045 percent.
Also the Industrial and Consumer Chemicals Act No. 3 of 2003 Sect. 30 (1),
supports the restriction, banning and elimination of all proven dangerous
and toxic chemicals to human health and environment and chemicals which are
subjected to action according to international Convention or Treaty ratified
in the United Republic of Tanzania. There are no specific laws or
regulations on lead in paint in Tanzania.

Q: Are there such laws in other countries?

A: Most developing countries and countries with economy in transition do not
have regulations on the amount of lead in paint or only have voluntary
standard in place.

Q: If that is the case, why lead is of health concern?

A: Human exposure to lead is mainly through inhalation, ingestion, or in a
small number of cases, absorption through the skin - it is a poison. Lead
has the same affinity for our biological systems as essential minerals such
as iron, calcium and zinc. Lead causes harm wherever it deposits in the
body. In the blood stream, for example, it damages red blood cells and
limits their ability to carry oxygen to tissues and organs. Most lead ends
up in the bones, where it interferes with the production of blood cells and
the absorption of calcium that bone needs to grow healthy and strong.

Q: Who are the most vulnerable?

A: Young children, as their growing bodies absorb lead more easily than
adults. Even low level of lead exposure may harm their intellectual
development, growth, behaviour and hearing. During pregnancy for example,
especially in the last trimester, lead can cross the placenta and affect the
unborn child. Female workers exposed to high levels of lead have higher risk
of miscarriages and still births. People with occupational exposure to lead,
like painters, renovators, workers in refineries and smelters, have higher
risk of lead poisoning.

Q: What are lead poisoning symptoms?

A: Lead poisoning has no obvious signs, and most children do not report any
abnormal symptoms. Children with high levels of lead in their bodies might
report stomach-aches or exhibit decreased appetite, hyperactivity, sleeping
problems or irritability. Because these symptoms appear to mimic other
childhood problems, lead poisoning is sometimes mistaken for a cold or flue.
Other symptoms range from vomiting to madness to death.

Q: How to tell if a child has been poisoned by Lead?

A: Lead poisoning is only diagnosed through a blood test. A doctor or nurse
takes blood sample from a child. The sample is taken to medical laboratory
for analysis to find out the amount of lead in the blood and recommend the
action to be taken, if necessary.

Q: What about awareness about lead paint in Tanzania

A: A number of Government Ministries, Departments and its Agencies staff and
industrial managers are aware that some paints contain lead. However,
distributers, sellers and painters lack such awareness.

Q: What does lead stakeholders say about eliminating lead paints in Tanzania

A: Stakeholders' views include observation of the standard set by the
Tanzania Bureau of Standards on lead paint by producers as a starting point
and awareness raising on the fact that some paints contain lead; and the way
of preventing exposure and absorption to humans. They are also promoting
awareness and availability of the alternative material to lead for paint
production, elimination of lead paint to be on gradual basis and establish
guidelines addressing lead paints in relation to Industrial and Consumer
Chemicals Act No. 3 of 2003 to include controls on importation of lead
contained materials.

Q: What are the international initiatives already taken to reduce lead
exposure to health

A: A number of bans of lead paint happened across North America, Western
Europe, Asia and Africa over the past 70 years; for example lead has been
eliminated in gasoline in most countries. This was carried out on gradual
basis.

As for reduction of the level of lead paint-The International Conference on
Chemical Management at its Second Session (ICCM2, Geneva, 11-15 May 2009)
endorsed a proposal from Toxics Link, an IPEN participating organization
from India, to establish a global partnership to promote the phase-out of
the use of lead in paint as an important contribution to the implementation
of paragraph 57 of the plan of Implementation of the World Summit on
Sustainable Development (WSSD) and to the Strategic Approach to
International Chemicals Management (SAICM).

The overall goal of the partnership, called the Global Alliance to Eliminate
Lead Paints (GAELP), to prevent children's exposure to lead via paints
containing lead and to minimize occupational exposures to lead paints. The
broad objective is to phase out the manufacture and sale of paints
containing lead and eventually to eliminate the risks from such paint. The
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Health
Organization (WHO) within their respective mandates and available resources
are serving as the Secretariat of the Global Alliance.

Q: How can we minimize the exposure to lead in paint?

A: lead in paint can be minimized by cleaning up paint chips and peeling
paint by wet washing, washing floors, counter tops and window sills
regularly with an all-purpose detergent, feeding children a healthy diet
that includes recommended amounts of iron, calcium and vitamin C and has
lower amount of fat and offering children health meals and snacks, such as
fruits so they will not put non-food items into their mouths. Other means
include using proper safety measures when renovating or remodelling a house,
like not using electric sanders or open flame torches to remove paints,
assuring that children and pregnant women do not enter a work area until
renovations are complete and the area has been thoroughly cleaned, washing a
child's hands, mouth and face, and toys often and removing shoes when coming
indoors so that lead dust is not tracked inside.


Also in the list are laundering work clothes separately from other clothes,
not serving or storing food in ceramic ware or other lead containing posts
and pans and stop burning waste oil, coloured newsprint, battery casings or
wood covered with paint in or near your home, as this could release lead
fumes.

Q: Suppose one is poisoned by lead, how can such a person be treated?
A: There is no effective treatment for lead poisoning. However, in extreme
cases, doctors may use chelaton drugs to treat children or adults with very
high blood lead levels. These medications are generally given in the
hospital either through intravenous or intramuscular injections or by mouth.


The medicine attaches to the lead in the blood and causes it to come out of
the body in the urine. If the lead level is very high, more than one
treatment session may be necessary to lower the amount of lead in the blood.
Even with treatment, lead takes a very long time to be removed from the body
and some of its effects may be permanent. Children with elevated blood
levels will need to live in a safe environment and be monitored repeatedly
for many years.