"Tougher U.S. Lead Paint Law May Not Protect Americans"

"CINCINNATI -- Companies on three continents continue to make and sell consumer paints that contain dangerous levels of lead despite the availability of technology to produce high-quality, low lead paint. A tougher lead paint standard takes effect in the United States later this month, but imported consumer goods may still contain hazardous amounts of lead paint. Health experts say there is no safe level of lead exposure.

In a new study, Scott Clark, PhD, and his University of Cincinnati team of environmental health researchers worked with scientists and physicians from India, Malaysia, and Singapore testing paints to determine their levels of lead, which can act as a neurotoxin in the bodies of children.

They found that 73 percent of consumer paint brands tested from 12 countries representing nearly half the world’s population exceeded the current U.S. standard of 600 parts per million for lead in paint.

They determined that 69 percent of the brands had at least one sample exceeding 10,000 parts per million.

Although lead content in paint has been restricted in the United States since 1978, because the majority of American consumer goods are produced overseas, Clark says lead paint exposure remains a threat to Americans."

Environment News Service had the story August 4, 2009.