Pollution control board to ban paints with high lead content

BENGALURU: To tackle lead contamination of air, water and soil, the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board is planning to ban sale of paints with lead content exceeding 90 mg/kg.

Last month, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) issued a notification to the Indian Paint Association stating that any manufacture, trade, import and export of  household and decorative paints containing lead or lead compounds more than 90 parts per million (ppm) of the weight should be prohibited.  This includes paint used as surface coating material in interior and exterior building walls, civil structures, consumer products meant for household purposes as well as enamel, primer, interior, undercoating and finishing colouring materials.

The Board also said that in the coming days, the self-certification on household and decorative paints manufactured or imported shall be labelled ‘lead content does not exceed 90 mg/kg.’ With this, the KSPCB is gearing up to tackle the issue. “As per the CPCB, any paint that has lead content exceeding 90 mg/kg should be banned. This is applicable for Karnataka. They have authorised the Central Power Research Institute (CPRI), the apex body to undertake testing and certification. One has to get certified from them before the product enters the market,’’ KSPCB Chairman Lakshman said.

While sources from KSPCB said the ban would be enforced soon, the manufacturing industries have already manufactured paint with lead content higher than the prescribed level. “But there will be some concessions for them,’’ the official said. A senior official said they are authorised to inspect units and shops randomly to check the lead content.  “We can take samples and get it tested at the lab, and if the lead content is found higher than the prescribed level, we can levy penalty or even force closure of the shop or unit. But it will be done after some time,’’ he said.