Lead paint risk lives on

A recent pollution study has revealed that lead-based paint remains a persistent threat in homes and buildings, despite government efforts to reduce the risks.

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Published July 30, the study included laboratory analysis that showed 11 out of 55 samples of paints from 10 different brands contained lead concentrations above 100 parts per million (ppm). This 100-ppm threshold was first implemented by the government on paint manufacturers in 2017.

The study shows seven paints from seven brands contained extremely high lead concentrations above 10,000 ppm. The highest lead concentration detected was 64,000 ppm. The researchers, however, do not provide the names of these sampled paints.

Civic groups carried out the research: the Ecological Alert and Recovery Thailand (EARTH), the Foundation for Consumers (FFC) and the National Institute for Child and Family Development (NICFD), Mahidol University.

Since 2013, EARTH has conducted laboratory analysis with IPEN, a global network against chemical pollution. Samples are sent to an accredited laboratory in the US.