Kathmandu, October 24
Experts and stakeholders have urged the government to impose a ban on lead paint and effectively implement the lead paint standard as it is harmful to human health.
As activists across the world are celebrating the International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week from October 21 to 27, they say the governments should adopt and effectively implement legislation to protect children’s health.
Lead is of one amongst 10 major toxic chemical of public health concern, according to the World Health Organisation.
“Lead paint, a major source of childhood lead exposure, can cause permanent and irreversible brain damage in children,” the global agency says citing various research reports, “Lead exposure globally accounted for 5,40,000 deaths and 13.9 million years lost to disability and death due to long-term effects on health, with the highest burden in developing regions. 857 million Children worldwide are at the risk of lead exposure.”
“Lead is a silent killer. But, we have an alternative to lead now,” states State Minister for Health and Population, Surendra Kumar Yadav.
Meanwhile, the WHO shares that series of lead paint studies in Nepal clearly revealed that the amount of lead content in the paint produced, imported, marketed, and used in Nepal has heavily decreased over the years.
