HCFI Alert : Beware of paints
Saturday 22nd August 2009 HCFI New Delhi: 73 percent of consumer paint brands tested from 12 countries in one study has shown that the brand surpasses the U.S. standard of 600 parts per million (ppm) for lead in paint, said Dr KK Aggarwal President, Heart Care Foundation of India, BSNL Dil Ka Darbar, MTNL Perfect Health Mela and Director, IMA AKN Sinha Institute.
Following are the tips
1. Eenamel paints had higher concentration of lead with most of them showing a concentration of more than 1000 ppm.
2. Painter who scrap paints may end up with acute lead poisoning with abdominal pains.
3. Some paints may have Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) causing asthma and cough. VOCs are organic chemical compounds that vaporize and enter the atmosphere. VOCs include aldehydes, ketones, and hydrocarbons and may be either organic compounds or mixtures of varied composition.
4. ‘Chuna’(limestone) used to whitewash their houses is safer to use than the high end paints available in the market.
5. Lead exposure could lead to weakness in fingers, abnormal blood pressure, anaemia and severe damage to brain and kidneys.
6. Dry hacking cough can occur due to exposure to toluene diisocyanate (TDI), a well-known sensitizing agent, and one of the chemical components in the car paint sprays.
7. Many of the toxic effects of lead are reversible if lead poisoning is identified early.
8. Asthmatics should avoid entering a freshly painted room |
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