KUALA LUMPUR, October 26 – In alignment with the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week (ILPPW), recognized from October 22 to 28, 2023, the Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) is calling upon the Malaysian government to enact legislation aimed at eliminating lead in paints. This year’s ILPPW theme is “End Childhood Lead Poisoning.” The week serves as a global effort to raise awareness about the health consequences of lead exposure and promote actions to mitigate these risks.
Lead is a well-established toxic substance with extensive health repercussions, especially impacting the neurological, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and hematological systems. Of particular concern is the vulnerability of young children, who have unique pathways leading to higher lead exposure than adults. Furthermore, lead exposure can inflict irreversible damage on a child’s developing brain, with long-lasting consequences such as reduced intellectual abilities. According to the WHO, more than two million deaths worldwide in 2019 were attributed to chemical exposures, with lead exposure accounting for nearly half of these deaths.
Furthermore, lead exposure was responsible for 21.7 million years lost to disability worldwide in 2019, including a significant portion of the global burden of idiopathic intellectual disability, cardiovascular disease, and chronic kidney diseases. Despite widespread recognition of lead’s harmful effects and actions taken in many countries, lead exposure, especially among children, remains a major concern for healthcare providers and public health officials worldwide. CAP has been advocating for lead paint standards for over 30 years.
Recent efforts by the Department of Standards Malaysia have led to specifications for certain types of paints, ensuring they do not contain lead. However, these standards are voluntary and do not encompass the entire paint market. In late 2020, the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs initiated efforts to establish mandatory standards for lead in paints, but as of today, there is no update on progress. Over the years, CAP, as part of the International Pollutants Elimination Network (IPEN), conducted numerous studies on paint in Malaysia. The results have been alarming:
- In 1992, seven out of nine enamel paints tested contained lead levels exceeding 600 ppm, with the highest concentration at 11,700 ppm.
- In 2016, 16 out of 39 samples of enamel decorative paint had dangerously high lead concentrations exceeding 10,000 ppm, with the highest at 150,000 ppm.
- In 2019, 11 out of 17 tested playground equipment items exceeded 10,000 ppm of lead.
- In 2020, two out of 48 spray paint samples had lead concentrations exceeding 10,000 ppm.
- In 2022, two out of 28 enamel decorative paint samples contained more than 10,000 ppm of lead.
Given the considerable risks of lead and the global momentum toward eliminating lead paint, CAP is urging the Malaysian government to promulgate and enforce laws aimed at eliminating lead in paint. The well-being of the nation’s children and the safeguarding of future generations are at stake, necessitating immediate action. Malaysia should take a proactive stance to protect its citizens from the harmful effects of lead exposure.
