October 18, 2018
GEORGE TOWN, Oct 18 (Bernama) — The Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) estimates that Malaysia will suffer RM11.8 billion or 2.63 per cent of annual economic loss due to lead exposure among future generations.
CAP President SM Mohamed Idris said a study conducted by the National Institute of Environmental Health Science, North Carolina, America, found significant economic impacts of childhood lead exposure on national economies in developing countries and correlated reduced IQ to reduction in lifetime economic productivity.
He said lead exposure was particularly hazardous to young children and pregnant women, as the effects include intellectual disabilities, increased risk of antisocial behaviour, reduced fertility and increased risk of renal and cardiovascular diseases later in life.
“The health impact of lead exposure on young children’s brains are lifelong, irreversible and untreatable. In view of the dangers of lead, CAP calls on the authorities to promulgate laws to eliminate lead in paints and ban lead in products, such as toys, furniture or other articles painted with lead paint,” he told a press conference held in conjunction with International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week (ILPPW), here today.
He said Malaysia had no laws on the regulation on the amount of lead in paint, even though 70 other countries have set a limit for it since 2016.
Mohamed Idris said at present, only 32 paint manufacturing companies in Malaysia had pledged to produce lead-free paint by 2020.
Meanwhile, CAP research officer Hatijah Hashim said most of the lead contained in paints was found in its pigments, and colours such as white, yellow and red had the highest lead content.