Caution urged against use of lead paints
UNB
Discussants yesterday urged caution against the use of lead paints, as it has an adverse effect on human beings, especially on children and pregnant women, reports UNB. Environment and Social Development Organisation (ESDO) organized a discussion titled Eliminate Lead Paint: Protect Childrens health at Jatiya Press Club. Chaired by Syed Marghub Morshed, among others secretary general of Bangladesh Paint Manufacturer Association (BPMA) Md Samsuzzaman, and former professor of chemistry at Dhaka University Dr. Abu Jafar Mahmood also spoke on the occasion. ESDO secretary general Dr Shahriar Hossain presented the keynote paper. In his keynote Dr Hossain said exposure to lead harms both children and adults, and the effects are irreversible, leaving a lifelong impact on the human body. Exposure to lead in childhood, which is used in paints applied on interiors and exteriors of buildings, may also cause brain damage leading to mental retardation. Pregnant women should avoid lead as even low-level exposure can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, premature birth, etc, said Dr Hossain. Marghub Morshed demanded a ban on import and sale of lead paints, and suggested using flaking, chipping or old paint instead of enamel-based solutions that contain the risky levels of lead. Discussants also demanded reducing import tax on lead-free paints, as well as help for small and medium entrepreneurs to produce lead-free paints in the country.
