NGO demands check on lead content in paints
June 30th, 2011 - 12:20 am ICT by IANSNew Delhi, June 29 (IANS) High levels of lead found in some of the biggest paint brands products continue to pose huge health hazard, a report by an NGO claimed Wednesday.
According to the report released by NGO Toxic Link, over 63 percent of the paint samples studied in India, Nepal and Bangladesh had lead content above 90 parts per million (ppm) permissable in the US.
Alarmingly, in 44 percent of the samples, the content exceeded 1,000 ppm limit in India.
“It is no less than a criminal act by the paints major to intently poison the public with the deadliest toxic heavy metal across the region,” a statement from Toxic Link said.
“Our tests revealed that some companies are following the standards of lead concentration in India but the same companies are manufacturing paints with high lead concentration and sending to Nepal and Bangladesh,” said Ravi Agarwal, director, Toxic Link.
“We have approached the environment ministry regarding this case many times and the ministry acknowledges the fact. But no action is being taken,” added Agarwal.
The report is a collaborative effort by Toxics Link, India, the Center for Public Health and Environment Development (CEPHED), Nepal, and the Environment and Social Development Organisation (ESDO), Bangladesh.
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