Update on the Global Status of Legal Limits on Lead in Paint: September 2017

Abstract

This update is provided by the United Nations Environment Programme (UN Environment) in support of the Global Alliance to Eliminate Lead Paint (Lead Paint Alliance). UN Environment and the World Health Organization serve as the joint secretariat for this international voluntary, collaborative initiative (See Resource 1). “Lead paint” is paint or similar surface-coatings to which one or more lead compounds have been added. The primary goal of the Lead Paint Alliance is to prevent children’s exposure to lead from paints and to minimize occupational exposures to lead paint. The most effective means of preventing lead exposure from paints is to establish national laws, including legislation, regulations and/or legally binding standards as appropriate, that ban the use of lead additives in paints. Therefore, the goal of the Alliance is for all countries to have lead paint laws in place as soon as possible.