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Poisonous paints still found in Indonesia, study reports

Jakarta, Ekuatorial – A new study revealed on Thursday (18/6) that more than three quarters of analyzed decorative paints were below standards, activist said.

The National Report on Lead in Indonesia’s New Enamel Household Paints, published by BaliFokus, an NGO focusing on environment and urban development, found that 94 out of the total 121 cans of enamel decorative paints (usually applied on wood and steel), from 63 brands being analyzed contain lead more than 600 ppm (parts per million).

In addition, 50 paints were found to have contained lead more than 10,000 ppm.

Meanwhile, current standards for household paints in the US and Canada is 90 ppm which means there’s no additional lead contain in the mixture. Though, some countries have settled with 600 ppm as the benchmark.

Nevertheless, UN’s health organization body, WHO had declared that ‘there is no known safe level of exposure to lead’ and ‘lead poisoning accounts for about 0.6 percent of the global burden of disease’.

“Evidence of reduced intelligence caused by childhood exposure to lead has led WHO to list ‘lead-caused mental retardation’ as recognized disease,” as quoted on the report which took samples from jakarta, Depok, Denpasar, Bogor, Tangerang, and South Tangerang between 2014-15.

Furthermore, the report also found that brighter colors, such as yellow, orange, green, and red, have highest levels of lead compare to other complexions.

Surya Anaya, director of BaliFokus, said there was still no strict regulation on lead in paints in Indonesia.

“There are SNI [Indonesian National Standard] on these products but no sanctions,” said Anaya at the launching event, in Jakarta.

He cited on SNI 8011: 2014 for decorative solvent based organic paint which regulated lead content maximum of 600 ppm.

“But, it is still voluntary and it has yet to be published to public. So, how can public also be aware on this issue if there’s no clear information,” he said adding that the SNI has yet to be published officially.

He also underlined on the absence of monitoring role from the government on the issue. “There’s not one institution would want to step up and claim for responsibility for this issue,” he said.

Karliansyah, director general for pollution and environmental damage control, said that he was not aware of standardization related to lead in paints.

“No, I don’t think that there’s any SNI released for paints. But, if the report’s confirmed then the ministry [of environment and forestry] will be coordination ministry of industry to check [on those paints,” said Karliansyah, prior to the launching event.

Furthermore, he said that generally, lead was not banned in Indonesia as long as it was still below standards.

“We have regulated lead but only in water, air, and soil. We have yet to regulate on other mediums,” he added.
Sonia Buftheim, BaliFokus’ Toxic Program Officer, said that there were alternatives to lead for companies to use.

“We don’t do this research without any solutions. There are organic solvent can be used by paint companies instead of lead. And, it would only cost addition few thousands rupiahs [in production],” said Buftheim.

In addition, companies can export their products because of low lead content in their paints. “So, basically, there’s no excuse for not using better substance in their paints,” she said.

Furthermore, she encourages public to be smart consumer by checking the labels. “We have found that those paints labeled with ‘no added lead’ are mostly below 90 ppm. So, take your time to really check on the substance,” she said. Fidelis E. Satriastanti

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