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World Environment Day: Urgent call to control lead chromates in paint

From La Presse · () French

Translated from French, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Global organizations are urgently calling for lead chromates, used in paint, to be included in the Rotterdam Convention to regulate international trade of hazardous chemicals.
  • Lead exposure from paint poses a persistent threat to children's health worldwide, causing irreversible neurological damage and cognitive issues.
  • Despite EU bans, it continues to produce and export lead chromates, with India also exporting the substance, highlighting regulatory loopholes and the need for global action.

On World Environment Day, international networks are sounding the alarm over lead chromates in paint, urging their inclusion in the Rotterdam Convention. The International Pollutants Elimination Network (IPEN), representing over 730 civil society organizations, highlighted the urgent need to control these toxic pigments, widely used in paint manufacturing.

Lead exposure, particularly for children, is linked to severe and irreversible health problems, including neurological damage, reduced IQ, attention deficits, and cardiovascular issues. "Lead paint remains one of the most widespread sources of lead exposure in children," stated Sara Brosché, IPEN's scientific advisor. She emphasized that safer, readily available alternatives can easily replace these hazardous products.

A recent IPEN report, "Exporting lead poisoning: the toxic trade of lead chromates," reveals significant regulatory gaps. While the European Union has banned lead chromates domestically, it continues to produce and export them. Between 2020 and 2022, the EU exported these substances to over 40 countries, many of which have already banned lead paint. India also exported lead chromates to 78 countries during the same period.

Despite these challenges, legislative progress is being made. Regulations have been adopted by the East African Community (2019), ECOWAS (2024), and the Eurasian Economic Union (planned for 2025). Over 30 countries now have regulations, with another thirty developing them. Morocco, Cameroon, Switzerland, and Australia have officially notified the Convention of their bans, placing these chemicals on the agenda for the next Conference of the Parties. This move would subject them to the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) procedure, requiring exporting countries to notify and obtain explicit agreement from importing nations before shipments.

Currently, IPEN member groups in over 20 low- and middle-income countries are assessing pigment use to encourage their governments to support this international action. In Tunisia, associations are also involved in this effort.

lead paint remains one of the most widespread sources of lead exposure in children

— Sara BroschéIPEN's scientific advisor, highlighting the persistent danger of lead paint.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by La Presse in French. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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