PAINT MANUFACTURER SPEARHEADS NATIONAL LEAD POISING PREVENTION WEEK OF ACTION.

In a bid to sensitize and educate the public on the effects of lead poisoning, Basco Paints in partnership with the University of Nairobi and UNEP held a National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week of Action campaign that culminated in a walk that was flagged off by the Basco Paints Managing Director Mr. Kamlesh Shah and University of Nairobi Principal College of Biological and Physical Sciences Professor Bernard Aduda. The campaign run from 21st to 27th October 2018 in line with the global lead poisoning prevention week of action.

Recent studies have shown that lead in paint is the most common way for both children and adults to be afflicted with lead poisoning. Many older structures, residential and commercial, have lead paint that is peeling, flaking and chipping. Children can ingest loose paint as a result of pica (compulsive eating of nonfood items) and through mouthing of items contaminated with lead from paint, dust, and soil. High levels of lead in soil and house dust have been associated with increased blood lead levels in children.

“Lead poisoning has some very serious effects on the human body going to the lengths of affecting an unborn child in a mother’s womb. With this is in mind as Basco Paints we are committed to ensuring that we maintain the global standards of lead in our paint which is 90 parts per million (PPM). Basco Paints produces lead-free paint and we are passionate about educating the public on lead poisoning caused by paint”. Expressed Mr. Kamlesh Shah, MD Basco Paints.

The walk from the University School of Chemistry through, Nairobi CBD to Uhuru Highway, Kenyatta Avenue, Moi Avenue and back to the School of Chemistry was attended by more than 200 people that included University of Nairobi students and faculty, Architectural Association of Kenya representatives, Kenya Chemical Society representatives, NEMA, KEBS  as well as Basco Paints Staff.

“Lead affects the intellectual development and wellbeing of children resulting in significant learning challenges, if not enough it has adverse effects on adults as well. This one of the reasons that the KEBS Technical committee that includes paint manufacturers recently developed a permissive limit of 90 PPM total lead content in paint. The same efforts are also being made by the East African Community with efforts have been directed towards harmonization of the East African lead standard. The EA draft standards are currently open for public review by KEBS within 60 days” Said Mr. Peter Namutala , Principal Standard Officer KEBS

Basco Paints core endeavor is to provide products that are not just the best in performance, but also safe and minimize the impact on our environment especially on children. In continuation of the same objective Basco phased out lead from Duracoat Decorative range in 2012. The paint experts continue to ensure that it provides paints that are environment friendly for the good for the public.